0 It's the Holidays

The holiday season goes by so quickly! I can't believe next week is going to be Christmas. I have not even started wrapping my presents yet...it scares me to even start!!!

We have had a fun December so far. The first weekend we hosted an "Around the House" shower for our friends Sandy and Chris. Below are some pictures from the party.


Here's one of Chris and Sandy opening their presents. They got some good stuff!


Raleigh, Chris, and one of his groomsmen getting some food


Sandy with her sweet bridesmaids


The hosts and hostesses

This past weekend, I got to stand by my friend Abby as she became Mrs. Abby Gray. Abby and I met in college when we were both orientation leaders for Camp War Eagle. CWE was an amazing experience but the thing that I loved most about it was getting to know some really great people. Miss Abby was one of those people. We instantly clicked and she became a wonderful Christian companion of mine that summer. She can quote scripture like the back of her hand and she always has a smile on her face. Seriously, always. I am so thankful that we have continued our friendship for all of these post college years and I look forward to many more years of memories!


CWE Summer 2004


Abby and I getting our hair done


The gorgeous bride!


My sweet friend was glowing on her wedding day!


Stephanie, Becka, and I had a bobby pin assembly line going on!


JD and Abby cutting their wedding cake. Both the bride and grooms cake were delicious! Raleigh loved this cake because it had a hint of almond in it. I went straight for the grooms cake...gotta have me some chocolate!


Raleigh and I at the reception


I wanted to quickly shout out to my friends Ashley and Adam for celebrating their 2 year wedding anniversary! We love y'all!!!!!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Move Mountains

Prayer.

We all need it, we all want it...but are we willing to allow it to transform our lives?

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you truly believe that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed that you can move mountains?

I will admit, over time I have had my doubts about the power of prayer. I have had conversations with friends about my troubles and they always say, "I'll keep you in my prayers." Yet, sometimes I wonder if they really do keep me in their prayers. Honestly, if I don't take time to pray for someone at the very second that they ask, my day will pass by so quickly that I won't remember to do it later. Isn't that horrible and so selfish? It is definitely something that I am constantly working on to improve.

On average, I believe that most of us pray at least once a day. Whether it is at dinnertime or bedtime, we have those "canned" prayers that we say every day. Growing up, my brother and I split the dinnertime prayer because we use to argue over who would say it. So, he says the first part and I say the last. To this day, we still do it that way. Those prayers count, but how many times a day do we go head to the floor in prayer? I mean, really prostrate ourselves in front of our mighty Savior? Sadly, I believe that most of us do this in dire times....life or death times....serious circumstance times.

I am awe-struck by those that take time out of their day to meditate in prayer. Many other religions in this world take serious time out of their day to pray to their gods. Why do we Christians have such a hard time doing this? There are many answers, but the first one that comes to my mind is an answer that relates to the region of the world that we live in. In America, where Christianity is still the largest practiced religion, we are going 90 miles an hour and we just don't feel like we have enough time in the day to meditate. I can say that many of us would feel like others would think we were wasting time if we took 30 minutes out of our day to meditate.

It makes me sad to think that sometimes I value my schedule over my time with God. Friends, we have got to do something about this. We have got to start making time for our Creator. His line is always open. There is no busy signal, no slow connection, and no traffic when it comes to having some quiet time with Jesus.

I do believe that prayer can move mountains. I have witnessed first-hand that God does answer prayers. I can't carry the weight of my world on my shoulders. I'm just too weak. But, my strong Savior can handle everything that I give him plus the rest of the world's troubles. True prayer isn't necessarily about us, it is about trusting our lives with God. It is believing that no matter what the outcome...good or bad...He is in control and the end result is going to make us so much stronger if we truly believe that all He has is goodness for our lives.

Friends, I want to make an effort to be your prayer companion. Please don't hesitate to ask me to pray with you.....you can send a request anonymously if you wish....but know that I would like to pray for you.

I would like to ask for you all to pray for my bible study mentor, Beth Moore. I read her recent post and she had to have surgery (they did not state what for) and she is slowly recovering. She has touched many of us through her wise words and this is how we can help her.

Thank you dear friends.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Bubble Wrap

Goodness gracious, have I got so much to share with all of you! First off, what did y'all think about Raleigh's post on the Love Dare? I am so excited that he is going to start doing reviews and other posts on this blog. If it wasn't for Raleigh Price, I would have never been brave enough to start doing this in the first place. I truly believe that he adds an element of creativity and style to this site. We have more things in store for you all in the upcoming weeks so be on the look out for some new upgrades to The Uncontainable Truth!

Secondly, I just want to apologize for not posting sooner. Last week was a little crazy for me and I was out of town and then my mom came to Montgomery to help me decorate for an engagement party we had at our house on Saturday night. My mom is a crazy worker bee and she was cleaning all over the place. She had a fit with my oven and my bathtub. I told her that people wouldn't be looking at my oven and bathtub but she said, "Christen Michelle Ridley...Price....I just can't let you live like this!" Mom loves our house but she isn't used to it being so...old. Older homes just have that certain "character" that you love but at the same time have to ignore. Like, I love my hardwood floors but I don't love how they warp in some areas. Or, I love the transoms above my doors but I don't love how air comes through the window even when it is painted shut. Oh, the joys and the charm.

Finally, tonight after dinner I sat back and watched Carrie Underwood's Holiday Special. I do have to say, I am a BIG Carrie Underwood fan. No haters out there I hope. I just love, love, love her music. Last year, she came to Birmingham and we went to her concert and I remember my spirit felt uplifted when I left. Now, I know she has songs that aren't very nice like "Before He Cheats" but all in all she is someone that holds herself with grace and character. Tonight she sang a song from her new c.d. called "Temporary Home" and it was truly inspirational. I love Christian music but I truly admire her because she sings songs like that in our pop culture where she can influence so many non-believers.

I feel like it is so easy to get wrapped up into a bubble and just communicate with people that are just like me. We aren't afraid to share our testimony at church but we won't tell our co-worker about Christ and how He is the only way we can make it through our day. I know I have some friends that I openly discuss Jesus with and then I have others where I don't even bring up the subject. Something that I am constantly seeking is that balance of sharing Christ with non-believers or luke-warm Christians without freaking them out. In Philemon v. 6, Paul says, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."

From this verse, I believe that the more we share our faith the more we will have faith. So, not only will we be helping others learn how to have a relationship with Jesus, we will also be strengthening our own relationship with him. Many believe in God but they don't know God. They don't let themselves give in to his undeniable love. When we fully commit ourselves to wanting a relationship with Jesus, we become living disciples for him and it becomes more natural to share him with others because we can't deny where our joy is coming from.

It sounds so simple doesn't it? Well, guess what...it is! Fear is from Satan and that is what is holding me back. But, if I let go of fearing what others will think, I will be basking in his love for me and that will be a light to others.

How have you overcome your fears of what others will think of you? Do you have an example of how you have shared Christ with others? Help us shy girls out :)

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Book Review - The Love Dare

Hey everybody, today we are happy to bring you the first of many book reviews to come. Throughout the reviews you will notice that many of the books, Christen and I will both give a review. I think this will give us a unique opportunity to have two different opinions on one book. Of course, over time we will also do individual reviews as well. As always, we would love any suggestions for a particular book you would like reviewed. Also, after five years of Architecture School, you learn to take criticism rather well; please comment on your likes and dislikes with the review process as well. Now that I've beaten around that bush…

Description:

Too many marriages end when someone says "I've fallen out of love with you" or "I don't love you anymore." The Love Dare discusses how these statements reveal a lack of understanding about the fundamental nature of true love.

As featured in the popular new movie Fireproof, from the team that brought us the #1 best selling DVD Facing the Giants, The Love Dare is a 40-day guided devotional experience that will lead your heart back to truly loving your spouse while learning more about the design, nature, and source of true love. Each reading includes Scripture, a statement of principle, the day's "dare," and a journaling area and check box to chart progress. Dare to take The Love Dare, and see your marriage change forever.

Review:

When our small group decided that we were going to read The Love Dare as a group, I must admit, I had my doubts. This is a book that I imagined to be an extremely personal experience between two people. I wasn’t too sure about sharing how well we had done the Dare’s. Now that we have successfully gone through all 40 days, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the book, but also the group study of it as well. Our days fill up quick, and it was nice having a level of accountability to The Love Dare.

The book really felt like it broke down into three parts. The first part starts out as rather simple ways of showing affection for your spouse that we simply forget to do because of our busy schedules. To put it bluntly, you basically realize all the things that you’re really not that great at anymore. Whether it be preparing a special meal for the two of you every now and then; or simply biting your tongue when your spouse irritates you. These dares, although they require the most physical effort, will turn out to be the easiest really.

The second part of the book takes more of an inward focus. It establishes through scripture the fact that our God loves us with all of our imperfections. He never holds back his love from us simply because we have not loved him. Here, we learn what true love really is- love that is about commitment, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Yet, most importantly, that it is a choice and not a feeling. A choice that has been exemplified by Jesus Christ.

The final part of the book dares you to take what you have learned and work with your spouse, not only as you build a relationship with each other, but a relationship with Christ. You will quickly find that your relationship with God directly affects your relationships on earth. Love never fails. That is probably one of the boldest things ever written. Love never fails. God never fails. As humans, we lose our way sometimes and let each other down. But if you and your spouse truly seek out the Lord together, your love will not fail. This He has promised.

Recommendation: I highly recommend The Love Dare to any couple, whether newlyweds or those in the retirement home together. There is no wrong time in a marriage to read this book. If you and your spouse commit the The Love Dare, your marriage will not go unchanged. If your spouse is unwilling to take the challenge, I dare you to take this journey and see if you can love as God has.

In our small group we have a couple that is months away from getting married and although they may not have been able to fulfill all the dares just yet; I know that it has helped build a solid foundation for their marriage to come. However, I would be hesitant to recommend this book to those that are in a casual relationship.

-Raleigh

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0 Pay no attention to the man behind the blog...

Hey everyone, I'm Christen's husband, Raleigh, and I just wanted to thank you all for being a part of this community. It is absolutely amazing to see it growing the way it is. In the near future, we hope to start expanding everything the blog has to offer and really turn it into more of an actual website full of different opportunities for people to reach out to each other and grow closer to God. Throughout this process, please feel free to share your opinions on how you would like to see this community grow. Successful communities take a lot of planning, so we would like to hear what our "residents" have to say. With that said, I just so happen to be the more tech-oriented of the family. So I ask that as we begin to make these transitions that you bear with us. New features will become available over time, so if you click on a link and it appears to be dead, feel free to let me now. Again, thank you all for the support, and I look forward to taking a more active role at The Uncontainable Truth.

-Raleigh

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2 Pumpkin Shoot

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! Lu Lu and I just got back from a walk to burn off some of that turkey we ate yesterday :) This afternoon is the Auburn/Alabama game and we are going over to my parents house to watch it. My dad is a HUGE Alabama fan so I'm sure it is going to get a little rowdy around the house! I was raised as an Alabama supporter but when I started to look for which college I was going to attend it was hands-down Auburn. Now my heart bleeds orange and blue! War Eagle, Hey!

Here are some pictures from yesterday. This first one was taken at Raleigh's parents house. It was a little too bright but I still like the picture.



Here's a family shot that was taken after we ate lunch



I love this next picture. The two boys on the ends are Raleigh's cousins. They are in the 9th grade and are both great guys. Gavin is the tall one next to me. He makes me look like a midget! :)



After lunch, we headed out to the Prices' land to do the pumpkin shoot. We had such a good time. Below is a picture of Raleigh before he got ready to shoot his pumpkins.



Gunter teaching KB how to shoot



Here's one of me shooting. I didn't have very good aim!



Lu Lu and Obi had never heard a gun shot so they both got really scared. Bless their hearts they both hid under the toolbox and in the woods!!!!!





This was taken when we weren't shooting. Obi looks a little happier!



Me and Raleigh



All in all, it was a pretty good Thanksgiving day. How was your Thanksgiving? I would love to hear any fun stories!

Have a great day!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello my blogging family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! I just wanted to say a quick hello before we head over to Raleigh's Nan Nan's house to eat our turkey and dressing. Today is going to be a glorious day! The sun is shining, the air is cool, and my tummy is about to be full!

This morning I actually woke up early because I went to bed early so I got to watch the beginning of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I saw Spider Man and a clip from the West Side Story. My sister-in-law actually marched in the parade when she was a junior in high school with her dance squad. Pretty cool!

After lunch, we are going to the Price's land to do a pumpkin shoot. We did it in his parents backyard two years ago and the police came out on Thanksgiving! ha! I will be sure to take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

I am so thankful to have this blogging family. It is fun seeing the cluster map grow with new readers and continued readers. Thank you for supporting this little site and I look forward to the things to come!

What are you doing today for Thanksgiving? I would love to know. Take care!

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." - 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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1 Unknown Caller

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD; The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." The Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" The Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." - 1 Samuel 3:2-10

Have you ever had a moment like Samuel in this story? You hear God calling your name but you don't know who it is? Or, do you hear God calling your name and you aren't ready to listen to what he has to say? Today we are going to talk about God revealing himself to us and how we can learn to listen and be able to distinguish his voice.

Y'all, I'm going to let you in on one of my secrets. Talking on the phone is just not something I enjoy doing. Awful, I know! I am horrible at catching my phone on the first ring. My mom will call me and I usually have to call her back because I can hear my phone ringing in my purse but I just can't find the dang thing! If I don't recognize the number, you better know that it is going straight to voicemail. Or, if I do recognize the number but know that I don't have time/don't feel like talking at the moment, I just let it ring and call them back later.

What if, instead of my mom being on the other line, God chooses to dial my digits? And, when he dials I keep missing the phone every time it rings?!? When I finally do pick up the phone and hear the voice at the other end, my reply is, "Sorry, I believe you have the wrong number."

When I meet someone for the first time, I usually keep the conversation pretty casual. I am sincere but it is rare for me to open up my insides and reveal all of my struggles. It takes me trusting people to finally let them in on my fears, concerns, and thoughts for my life. When we started the blog, I was very nervous about being so open with people that I have never talked to, let alone never even met! But, God put this on my heart to share with others so that is what I am doing.

Friends, I am really struggling with a situation right now. I feel as though God has revealed part of his plan for my life and I am so scared to take the next step. I believe in him and trust in him but it is so far from anything I ever thought I would do. Lately, I feel like God has been saying Christen! Christen! but I continue to go to my modern day Eli. Now, knowing that he has called my name I have to make a decision as to whether or not I will be his humble servant.

Needless to say, I am very overwhelmed. I have gotten advice from family and friends but it is still hard for me to take that leap of faith. Does anybody else struggle with this like I am? I would love to know.

Today, I read some scripture about God revealing himself to women. This one verse is so beautiful and it shows me that he does make himself known to man. It is from Amos 4:13, "He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth - the LORD God Almighty is his name."

While that verse gives me comfort, I am still fearful of what lies ahead. But, I am even more fearful of not listening to God and totally missing the boat. This next verse reminds me of something a granddad would say while rocking on the front porch swing chewing sunflower seeds:

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" - Romans 8:18

From reading scripture, the word reveal has different Hebrew-Greek terminologies, but mainly they all mean to share, to declare something, to bring to light. We all know I am a fan of light and letting our lights shine so it gives me peace to know that God sheds light on a situation so we know which way to go in the dark. The Greek word apokalupto talks about how things are revealed from God through Christ. What does this mean, exactly? My thoughts are that once we have Christ in our hearts we have a sense of knowing that we have to follow him in every decision that we make.

"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus." - Galatians 1:15-17

I want to be more like Peter. When Christ was revealed to him, he stopped everything he was doing to take up his cross and follow him. He didn't get any one's approval or even check with the other apostles to make sure he was cool in the gang, he just went - right then and there - and started to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friends, aren't we modern day Samuel's in some crazy way? We just don't recognize the voice that is calling our name? God calls us multiple times and we either finally pick up the phone or we block that number so we never have to listen to what he has to say.

Are you ready to listen? Am I ready to listen?

I would love to hear of how you have heard God and have listened to his plans for your life. Also, before we end the post today, I want to give you a spoiler that cool things are cookin' in the Price house for this blog so stay tuned!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Music & Lyrics

Right now, I am sitting at home in my comfy clothes with endless options of what to do today. I could go to the grocery store this afternoon, take the pups to our new favorite park, or I could simply sit on my couch sipping hot cider and reading a good book.

You guessed it...I am on vacation! Please don't be jealous :) I have worked hard for this time off and I am going to enjoy it to the fullest. I really am so excited to have some QT around the house before we head to Dothan for Thanksgiving. I plan on getting some Christmas shopping done and on Monday I am going to have friends over to eat some lunch. These are rare opportunities that I must take advantage of!

On a random side note, I have my i-pod playing in the background and I have to admit that I really like Taylor Swift's new c.d. Am I a teenager? Who cares, I like it and I'm not ashamed to admit it :) Please excuse me because I do not know musical terminology but I really like how when she sings her lyrics it is more like she is talking...does that make sense? I really like her song "The Best Day" when she talks about how much she loves her momma. It is too sweet.

Speaking of music and lyrics (get it...that movie with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant) the book of Psalm has some really great songs. Check out Psalm 92 which is a song written for the Sabbath day.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish they will be forever destroyed.

But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.

For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is not wickedness in him."

Doesn't that just make your heart swell with love and pride for our God? It gives me such comfort to know that 'all evildoers will be forever destroyed.' All of Satan's evil schemes and ugly plans are one day going to vanish and we will be left to flourish in the Lord's house like a palm tree.

I haven't seen the palm trees in Lebanon, but I do know what Panama City palm trees look like. Panama City Beach is on the panhandle of Florida off of the gulf coast and it is a beautiful white sandy beach. We are heading down there this weekend to stay at Raleigh's family beach house. It is a cute loft-style home that sits on the beach and it is a jewel. Sadly, over the years it has been hit pretty hard by all the hurricanes so it has had some re-modeling done to make it more wind-resistant. When this verse talks about the palm trees flourishing in the house of God, I think about the palm trees that have withstood the hurricanes. Through the wind, rain, and sea these trees have stayed rooted in the ground. That is good imagery for our walk with Christ. We are constantly going to be faced with hurricanes in our life, whether through people being ugly to us or life-threatening challenges that come our way. But, if we continue to 'praise the Lord in the morning and be faithful at night' we will remain rooted and grounded in his house. So, no matter what devastating hurricane comes our way, we will still flourish and stay fresh and green.

'But you, O LORD, are exalted forever'

Friends, what hurricanes have you withstood in your life? Please feel free to share about how you have stood strong through your adversary.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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2 Rejoice!

Anybody need some motivation on this Monday morning? I am feeling quite chipper this morning so here are some encouraging words that keep running through my mind.

"This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
-Psalm 118:24

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE!"
-Philippians 4:4

Friends, I know Mondays are rough but I hope this helps you start your day a little bit brighter! Let's take a moment to praise our Glorious Creator for this wonderful day!!!

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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2 Stepping Stones

Y'all, my puppy dogs can't get enough of me this morning. I swear, they are too cute when they wake up. When Obi starts to wake up, he lifts one leg into the air to stretch it out. It is really funny looking. Little Miss Lu Lu rolls on her back and she uses her front two paws to rub at her face as if she is rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Both love a good belly rub as well to get the day going.

This morning, Lu Lu was ready for me to get up. I know this because after the alarm went off, she started to lick my face. I know some of you out there will think that is gross and but I really don't mind it because she is so little. After she gets up and I am still laying in bed because I'm not ready to get up Obi starts to nudge her with his head. Even though Obi's head is bigger than Lu Lu's whole body he still manages to be gentle with her. Once he starts nudging, she starts to get snappy. It's like she is the big sister that is trying to get ready in the bathroom and her little brother keeps annoying her. It is pretty funny to watch.

After they are both up and going, we walk across the cold hardwood floor to the kitchen to get some food in our bellies. Obi, being the gentleman that he is, allows Lu Lu to eat her food first. If he starts to get close before she is finished, she has no problem telling him to back off. But, most mornings, they do just fine.

Lu Lu came to us my senior year of college for Christmas. She was so tiny and fluffy and she just loves to be next to me. Right now, she is sitting in my lap not bothering me a bit. You see, Lu Lu has been my little companion these last couple of years. After college, I moved two hours north to Birmingham, which is one of the largest cities in Alabama. Growing up, my mom used to always talk about how much she loved Birmingham and I think that is why I always wanted to live there. To us little city girls, this was the BIG city. When traveling north to Birmingham, the closer you get to the city the more the landscape changes. Being from peanut country, all of our land is really flat. But, Birmingham is known as Red Mountain and it has all of these rolling hills that twist and turn with such beautiful scenery down below. Upon moving there, I was so excited because there were tons of places to shop, eat and new places to explore.

At first glance, Birmingham, like all major cities can seem confusing but after time it really doesn't seem that big. My new motto since living there is "You can't find where you are going until you get lost!" The first six months of my stay in Birmingham, I lived in an adequate sized one bedroom apartment. To me, it was my first time living on my own and I loved the space. It was just the right size and for the first time in my life I had a place all to myself (with Lu Lu, of course). I didn't have to split duties with roommates or get frustrated when the dishes were left in the sink. It was up to me to keep the place the way I wanted it to be.

Of course, living by myself in a big new city was part of my parents letting go. My mom was just a phone call away but she was always concerned for my safety. My dad installed a security system in my apartment and one time in the middle of the night it went off. I have never been more scared in my entire life. I held on to Lu Lu so tight I thought I was going to suffocate her. I kept my bedroom lights off and frantically pushed the speed dial button to call my dad. It took him three times to pick up the phone because it was so late. When I heard his voice, I screamed in a soft whisper, "The alarm is going off, what do I do??????" Thank goodness for my dad. He calmed me down and instructed me that I had to get out of bed and walk to my bedroom door to look at the alarm to see if anything had tripped it. I crept out of bed, grabbed the miniature Atlanta Braves red baseball bat from my closet and quietly tip-toed to my door. When I got to the alarm, it wasn't saying that an entry had been opened. So, I dialed the code into the keypad and still nothing was showing up. Dad, being the thinker that he was asked me if Lu Lu was growling. I told him she wasn't so he instructed me to open the bedroom door and turn on all of the lights in the apartment. As I flipped on all of my light switches, everything looked just the way I had left it before bed. Thankfully, it turned out to just be the alarm battery but needless to say I didn't get much sleep that night.

Many of us want to explore new places and take these opportunities while we are young and fresh out of college. We want to have these experiences so we feel more worldly and even more adventurous. It takes courage to live by yourself or in a new city where you have to start from scratch. My advice would be that if you are going to do it, really engage yourself in your new environment. Get lost, get scared, and get a chance to make your own decisions. I am so thankful for that one short year of being completely by myself because it allowed me to have my personal time to develop as an individual. During that year, I was so ready to get married but at the same time I was also preparing myself for marriage. Life is just one big stepping stone and we aren't ready to take the next step until we have a solid footing underneath us.

I do know one thing is for sure: God lays out each step for me to take when it is time. He will be my comforter in the middle of the night when I am scared-stiff and He will be my guide before I take the next step. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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3 Homecoming

This past weekend was Homecoming on the rolling plains of Dixie 'neath the sun-kissed sky. Homecoming is such a fun weekend because as an alumnae you have the opportunity to re-unite with old friends and as a student you participate in all of the Homecoming festivities such as campaigning for Miss Homecoming, walking in the Homecoming parade that ends with a huge pep rally at Toomer's Corner and so much more. When I was in college, my sophomore year, I was spirit chair for my sorority along with my roommate. Part of being spirit chair was making the homecoming float and boy was that a task! We worked our little fingers so hard around all of that chicken wire!!!! It was worth it in the end when our float was announced winner during the game.

The thing that makes Homecoming such a special event is the feeling of pride we all have for a place that we love. The minute my car turns off I-85 a feeling of warmth rushes over me as I head into Tiger Town. It is the same feeling; yet a little stronger; that engulfs me when I go home to Dothan. Two weeks ago, I just had to go home. It had been a couple of weeks since I had traveled down to Dothan and I just needed some TLC. When we got into town, we stopped at my grandparents house and some how we got into all of their old pictures. I just love thumbing through pictures of them - in high school when my Na Na was a majorette, or in college when my Paw Paw was titled "Jack Rabbit Creel" because he was so fast. He has this great Auburn football picture of him - the smallest player on the team - on the shoulders of the biggest guy on the team. After we said our goodbyes, we went to my parents house. They have lived in the same house for 21 years and it will forever be my home. The smell of spices and wood tickle my nose as I walk into the front door. That Friday night my dad was cooking steaks and mine was melt-in-my-mouth delicious. My mother-in-law truly likes her steak burnt, but I just think that's wrong! I love a juicy light pink fillet wrapped in bacon like it was God's gift to me from heaven!!!!!

Going home was just good for my soul. It gave me a chance to spend quality time with my family and it was a rejuvenating weekend for my spirit. On Sunday, as we made the drive back to Montgomery I was a little sad to leave but I was sitting across from my sweet guy so I knew it was going to be okay. When we decided to move to Montgomery, Lord knows that was the last place on earth that I wanted to live. I just never had a desire to live here out of all the cities in Alabama. But, it was the right decision for us and we knew God was on our side so we settled down in our states' capital. I will admit, the first couple of months were no slice of pie, but now we really do enjoy this city.

I have come to the realization that it doesn't matter where you live as long as you love who you are living with. Being a wife, it is my duty to be by my husband's side. I might not enjoy where we are going or I might even resist the decision but at the end of the day it is what I whole-heartily agreed on when I said I do. While I will forever have a special place in my heart for my home and for my parents, I live with my husband now and ultimately it is his love for me that is of utmost importance in my life. It is our agape (unconditional) love for one another that keeps our marriage as the top priority in our lives. *Agape love is "in sickness and health" love, "for richer or poorer" love, "for better or worse" love. It is the only kind of love that is true love.

*That's because this is God's kind of love. He doesn't love us because we are lovable but because He is so loving. The Bible says, "In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

God loves us so much. When we accepted Christ into our hearts, we made the choice to make heaven our forever home. What a home that is going to be. No more worry, no more pain, just love and honor and praise forever and ever. Daniel says, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of ever language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14.)

Now, flip over to Revelation and see how these two different pieces of scripture connect so beautifully. "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Then I looked and heard the voices of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and they elders. In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 4:2-3, 5:11-12)

Don't be scared about going home one day dear friends. Let's just get ready to experience God's full love for the rest of our days.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

**The Love Dare

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4 Peanut Butter & Jelly

Hey friends,

I don't have much time today but I wanted to take a moment to say hello! Thank you all so much for reading my blog. My hope is that is becomes a source of motivation and encouragement for you during your day and also a tool that will help you develop/grow your own personal relationship with our Father.

Relationships aren't always easy, are they? Some people in this world I just instantly click with and others it takes some warming up to develop our friendship. During this post-college/young adult season of my life, I have realized how much effort it takes to maintain a relationship. I don't know about you, but I feel like I never get a chance to slow down. As a constant busy bee I am used to buzzing around but this season of my life I feel like I need to be drinking energy boosted honey to keep me going! This is somewhat of a problem because I know if I am feeling this way my friends are too so we have to constantly make an effort on both sides to maintain that friendship. Whether it be a phone call, text, or quick facebook message, we have got to try to keep that contact up!

One thing I wish my friends and I did more of are road trips or annual get-togethers. This summer, the girls that I was a cheerleader with in high school had a reunion at Lake Martin. We had the best time re-connecting and it was so funny because we had all changed but we still had our same personality traits as we did in high school. After that weekend, we promised each other that we would make this into a routine and try to have the whole squad attend. Check out this picture of them putting me in a stunt. Next time we are going to go for the full! ha ha





One friendship that I am so proud to have kept up is my friendship with my best friend, Ashley High Carson. We have known each other forever but we never run out of things to say. She and I were in dance together when we were younger and then in high school we became like peanut butter and jelly. We had a large group of friends and had other very close friends, but we always confided in each other and were there for one another when things got tough. I remember one time in high school I had an argument with my mom and I just had to get away. Ashley picked me up in her little white car and just drove me around town until I felt better. Below is one of our more recent pictures when we went to the Beth Moore conference in Nashville.



Ashley, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a true friend. I am so grateful for you to be in my life and I appreciate you always listening to me. I was so proud to stand next to you on your wedding day and I look forward to the more memories down the road! Love you friend!

Friends, take time to catch up with one another. We are always going to be busy but we still should make time for those that matter most to us.

"Of all best things upon the earth, I hold that a faithful friend is the best." -Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Our lifesaver

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
-John 14: 15-17

Today, I want to talk about love. We all love different things in life. We love our mates, we love our parents, and we love our new pair of shoes. I have been reading a lot about love lately in the Love Dare book. Love is patient, love is kind, love is a choice that people make to stay together forever. On the human scale of loving someone, I can't imagine ever loving anyone more than I love Raleigh. And my family. I would do practically anything for them out of love. That doesn't mean I always agree with them or like them, but I do love them and I make a choice to love them every single day.

Another thing I love is being outdoors. This morning, as I am typing, I am looking at a crystal blue sky and autumn leaves. What a glorious day! The sound of leaves crunching under my feet, the deep breaths of fresh air I inhale; all of these things are a gift given to me from my wonderful Creator.

The verse that we opened with was spoken by Jesus and how he promises for us to have the Holy Spirit when we accept him into our hearts. *Faith is believing that Jesus is one with the Father and the Spirit and that the Spirit will always stand by Christ's people.

I don't know about you, but I desperately need the Spirit to be in my life every day. This verse calls the Spirit to be our Counselor - someone we can go to with our problems and our needs. He is our confidant, someone we can trust with our problems every single second of every single day.

Do you want to know why we can trust our Savior? Because he is righteous and just. See for yourself in this passage from Psalm 85: 8-13:

I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

Some of the key words that stand out to me in this verse are peace, love and faithfulness. All of these things are promised to us because of our righteous Lord. I love the imagery of 'righteousness looks down from heaven.' It makes me think about how throughout the day, usually in the early morning or just before the sun begins to set, we see these beautiful beams shining down from the sky. Next time you see this ray of sunshine, think about it as God smiling down on us from Heaven because he knows that we are choosing what is right.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.
Psalm 106: 1-3

So, if we as Christians are promised to have peace, love, and justice for what is right, why are so many things wrong in our life? Why do we feel so desperate sometimes and like we keep taking all left turns instead of right? I think it is two main things:
1. Satan
2. Not completely trusting God to take care of us

Hear me out on this one. I feel like this earth is a constant battle ground. Somebody or something is always going to be an obstacle that Satan throws at us to make us not trust that God is going to fix it. A lot of times, we rely on our own decision making skills or the thoughts from our mates and family members to get us through the tough stuff. Or, we do take time to give our worries to God but we are still anxious and don't trust that He is actually going to take care of them.

When we desperately seek God, our Counselor, we will realize that all we need is him. It is okay to tell your problems to your loved ones but honestly there is only so much that they can do or say to make it better. God, our Wonderful Creator, Beautiful Savior, the Name ABOVE All Names is reaching out his hand as we are hanging from the ledge saying "Grab my hand, Trust me, follow me!" When we have faith in Him alone, we will be living in his righteousness.

Friends, I think a lot of us are swimming in the middle of the pool. We can't really touch the bottom but we can still swim back to the shallow end if needed. God is waiting for us in the deep end, asking us to take that leap of faith off the diving board to completely and utterly trust him that we won't sink.

I will tell you one thing: Satan is not going to like this and he is going to try really hard to drown you in the deep end. When you feel like he is getting a hold of you, just tell him to go away and hold on to Jesus, our lifesaver.

Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. -Psalm 91: 14-16

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

*Zondervan NIV Study Bible

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0 Blast from the Past

Tonight we are going to take a trip down memory lane. Earlier this evening we attended our church youth "Wig Out" party and we had such a good time playing dress up. Raleigh and I love any excuse to put on a costume and it has been way too long! Here are some blasts from the past. Hope you enjoy!



This was the first time we dressed up. We had just started dating my senior year of high school and I was president of a social organization and it was our annual Halloween party. As you can see, Raleigh was an old man and I was his nurse! He really made me push him in that wheelchair most of the night! It was a great event to go to while we had just officially started "going out".





These pictures were taken in college at one of Raleigh's architecture parties. This was was an 80's prom theme and was the first time I actually hung out with all of his new friends that he spent many a nights around! They are such a fun group and they don't play around when it comes to costume parties. I remember dancin it up to Jesse's Girl and 867-5309!



For one of my sorority parties, we dressed up as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. We actually made Raleigh's costume all the way down to the feather in the hat. I had so much "fairy dust" on me that night that I couldn't get it off with my eye makeup remover! I walked around for the next day or two with left-over glitter in my hair and eyes :) There were other Peter Pan's that night, but I had the best dancing Peter Pan of the bunch!







These were the pictures from tonight's party. Raleigh was a Harlem Globe Trotter and I was his cheerleader. It was so funny...one of the girls asked Raleigh what team he played for. He said "East," and she was like, "Oh, from High School Musical?" I joined in the conversation and said, "No, like East Wal-Mart!" I'll have to admit...I was the oldest cheerleader there and the other girls actually had their real cheerleader uniforms on. I was rockin my Carver Middle School uniform and my Northview cheerleading shoes! I was just proud to have the zipper zip!!!!


Friends, I believe that it is okay to be silly and have fun with your friends. It was so nice to not think about any of the daily pressures of life for two hours tonight and just joke around and act like a Valley Girl cheerleader. Take time to laugh at yourself sometime soon!

Please feel free to share any of your dress up pictures or fun memories :)

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Lost & Found

This week I have been out of my normal routine. I was out of the office a lot this week and working late so I think I am just bone-tired. On top of being tired, I have been really forgetful. Typically, I am not a forgetful person and I rarely misplace things. But lately, I have not been myself and this forgetfulness has really started to drive me crazy!

Last Sunday, I took my journal to church to write the day's message in it. I either left it at church or it is in some mysterious place around the house but for the life of me I can't find it. Today, we searched the Lost & Found at church and couldn't find it anywhere. I feel like I have lost a part of me. The journal had some personal thoughts in there on top of some really great messages so I am so sad that I can't find it. I have been journaling steadily since college and I love to look back over my entries at what I was thinking or read over the teachings that I have listened to. I know I put my name in the journal but I don't think I put my phone number so who knows if I will ever recover it.

The second thing I lost was my cell phone. Not once, but twice. On Friday, I went to Mobile to check out our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk because we are doing one in Montgomery next year. I rode down with two of our state leaders and after we ate lunch in Montgomery on Friday I couldn't find my phone in my purse. We called the office and sure enough I had left it on my desk. So, we drove back to the office for me to get it. I was so embarrassed by this forgetful action but I knew they understood because we were traveling. We safely arrived at the Mobile office late that afternoon so I picked up my phone to call my mom and husband to let them know we were there. Well, the signal wasn't going through so I set the phone next to my computer to try again later. Soon after that, we packed up our bags and headed to the hotel. At dinner that night, they were all showing pictures of their families on their cell phones so I thought I would whip mine out to show off my handsome husband and precious puppy dogs. Low and behold, I couldn't find my cell phone AGAIN. I was beyond embarrassed. I was really beating myself up inside thinking, "Christen, you moron, why can't you keep up with your phone?!" The office was locked up for the night but one of the staff got it the next morning and returned it to me. I felt so bad because she had enough to deal with the event that had over 8,000 people attend to be worrying about getting my stupid phone.

Finally, we got back to Montgomery yesterday afternoon and when I was unpacking I realized I had forgotten yet one more thing. I had left my diamond cross necklace in the bathroom at the hotel. It was so dainty and simple and I wore it all the time. My stomach did a flip flop when I realized I had forgotten this piece of jewelry. I called the hotel and am still waiting on a response but I am pretty sure some cleaning lady got an early Christmas gift. I know it is an object, but it meant a lot to me because I always wore it to feel like I had Jesus right next to me. I know I have Jesus but still I really did enjoy wearing it.

So, now I am just beating myself up for being so forgetful. I have stopped saying negative thoughts to myself but I am just mad at myself for misplacing all of these things within a span of one week. Of course, these items are objects and can be replaced, but they were things I was responsible for keeping up with. Today, I was thinking about this and the thought came to my mind that I am responsible for more than things like books, phones, and jewelry. I am responsible for bringing others to Christ. It is my duty, my call to action.

I purchased a shirt yesterday that is super cute. It is pink and on the front it has a little white sheep and underneath the sheep it reads "He is my Shepherd." The Bible talks about shepherds in many places. In Ezekiel 34:2 it says, "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?"
Friends in Christ let me say this: We are the shepherds of today. We should be taking care of Jesus' flock. There are so many people wandering around out there that do not know what it is like to live a life filled with God's love. How many people do we interact with on a day to day basis that are wondering around like little lost sheep?

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice." - Ezekiel 34:11-13, 15-16.

Thank goodness that our Amighty Savior is always keeping track of us. He is always there and will always be seeking us. He won't forget, misplace, or lose us. He will continue to search for the lost, injured, and weak and bring them underneath his wing. I love my God so much that He cares so much about me. Take peace in this verse and find comfort in knowing that our God is omnipresent. If you are wandering around feeling lost today, please know that the minute you commit yourself to Him, He will be right there to herd you in with the rest of us. You will be apart of his flock, the body of Christ, and by golly that is the best place to be! He has been looking after you for a long time and He is so glad that you are not lost, but found.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 I Dare You

Last night, our small group started a series on marriage. We are each reading The Love Dare book that was written for the movie Fireproof. Today was day one and I really should have heard it on Tuesday instead of today so I could practice it! Below is a section that I really enjoyed:

If your spouse offends you, do you quickly retaliate, or do you stay under control? Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so, you are spreading poison rather than medicine.

Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment or grief. You don't get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows out of our own selfishness, foolishness, or evil motives.

Patience, however, makes us wise. It doesn't rush to judgment but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgment. The Bible says, "He who is slow to anger had great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly" (Proverbs 14:29).

Patience helps you give your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time than they deserve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under the pressure.

The last part of this segment is something that Raleigh and I have had to learn over time. For those of you that know us, we started dating in high school and continued to date for six years until we got married. I had to learn patience on multiple levels, primarily patience in waiting and then a close second was patience with my partner. Today, as a married gal, I deal with the latter on a weekly basis. Sometimes I get so frustrated by the smallest things around the house and I just blow up. Usually, if we get into an argument it is over something silly but then we quickly become angry and say things that we shouldn't say. When we argue I always walk away with regret at the words I chose to say.

"See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Being patient with your partner is a choice that we have to make every time we open our mouths. It is shown through our actions and through our words. As I mentioned in an earlier post, words are what hurt me the most. In return, I know my words have hurt those close to me. I am constantly learning how to practice patience every single day so my home can be filled with positive words and actions instead of negative.

Friends, I dare you to be patient today. Whether it is with your spouse, co-worker, family member or friend, choose to keep your mouth shut an extra second before you respond. I bet you won't regret it.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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1 The Simple Things in Life

Contentment has always been a struggle of mine. I am an overachiever so I naturally have my eye on the goal and then once I achieve that goal it is on to the next big thing in my life. The problem with this is that I don't take time to enjoy or take pride in my accomplishments. I give myself a little pat on the back and then onward I go to face the next obstacle that is in my way. But lately, I haven't quite felt like myself. Nothing specific has been wrong but I have been feeling a little off, you know? I've been in a state of non-contentment and have been very unmotivated to start the next task on my to-do list. It's like I have been just getting through the day and the months have just rolled together like one long, drawn out play of my life.

This weekend, Raleigh and I did not have a single thing planned except attending a wedding in town on Saturday night. Other than that, not a sliver of anything was on the menu. It was the first time in months that we have not had somewhere to go or something to fix up around the house. So, on Friday night we went on a date. We had a nice dinner and then went to the movies. I love my husband so much and I am the type of person that doesn't mind staying in but it was fun to hit the town together. He opened my door and payed for my meal like the perfect gentleman and it reminded me of when we were dating. It was fun not really having a care in the world.

Also, another thing that I have started to do recently is running. When I say recently, I mean like this weekend but still, it's a start. Let me rewind this convo a bit and let you know that growing up, I always ran. I was a soccer player so I was constantly running to condition myself for the sport. In college, I loved to go on short runs around the neighborhoods close to campus. When I lived in Birmingham, I had friends that ran half-marathons and I decided that was a goal that I would like to accomplish. So, I joined a sweet friend in her running club. They ran three miles in the blink of an eye and for the first time in my life I wasn't in first place. Not even a close second place. I was shocked that I couldn't keep up with them! Eventually, I started to run at my own pace and when we moved down to Montgomery I promised myself that I would continue to run to train for the big half marathon in Birmingham this past February. Well, while I was training, I ran in two 5k's here in town. They were in November and December and I was miserably cold. I mentally broke down and couldn't even finish the races without walking.

Not being able to achieve that goal was so frustrating to me. I couldn't believe that as physically fit as I was that I couldn't make it through a half marathon. So, for the past eight months I have barely made it past a light jog. I just gave up on the dream of running a half marathon and started exercising in different ways. But, recently I have noticed that my jeans don't quite fit the way they used to and I have been feeling a little jiggly in some areas if you know what I mean. So, yesterday Raleigh and I took the pups on a walk to enjoy the nice crisp weather that we have had. As I was walking, I got the feeling that I needed to put a little pep into my step. All of a sudden, we were jogging. And it felt good!

Lu Lu in her pink camo vest ready to go for a run!

Tonight, we went on a little longer jog. We still stopped and walked but all in all it was good exercise. My legs feel a little like spaghetti but overall my body is glad that I did it. I remembered what it felt like to just run. Not run for a goal but running for enjoyment. It was actually fun and not something that I dreaded.

Paul, while in the Roman prison, wrote to the Philipians to thank them for their gifts to him. He said, "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:10-13).

So, this makes me think that maybe I need to start to truly enjoy the simple things in life. Maybe I should take time to do the things that give me pleasure and not be so focused on achievements. It is by the grace of God that I accomplish anything to begin with so if I solely rely on Him to give me the strength I need to face each day then I can't help but be content because I know there is nothing greater than that.

"Put your hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." - 1 Timothy 6:17

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 The Rainbow after the Storm

Don't you just love a holiday? I've got the day off today and it has been much needed. I got caught up on some sleep, did some laundry, ate lunch with a friend, and now I get to write another blog post. I call that a pretty good day. :) I just can't help myself, but today is another post about my weekend. Forgive me, you will probably see at least one more this week about my trip to Memphis. It was just too good not to share!

The theme for the weekend was titled, "Wild God Chase." Beth spoke from Exodus 34:1-9. The meat of that passage was this: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." (Exodus 34:6-7)

She touched on each of those topics but the one I want to share with you today is about forgiveness. Beth stated that God is scandalously forgiving. He forgives us for our wickedness that we are prone to do, our rebellion that we mean to do, and our sin, which we are bound to do. It is such a life lesson for us to know that God forgives us of all of our faults, whether we mean to or not, yet we often struggle with forgiving others.

Forgiveness is something that I have had to learn how to do over the years. For me, the thing that pains me the most is hurtful words. When somebody says something ugly to me or about me it is like a sword slashing through my heart. I cry out in agony and I suffer from those words. The wound is so deep and I am uncertain if it will ever fully heal. From the outside, I might look all clean and shiny but on the inside I am black and blue.

Beth spoke about how a girl commented on her blog that often she "fake forgives." We rip the band aid off before the forgiveness has mended the wound. I know I am a host to fake forgiving. The thing that has always bothered me about forgiveness is the fact that I have to forgive but it is hard for me to forget. I struggle with that saying because I know that God releases me from what I did and I am washed clean, but it is so hard for me to do that to others. For instance, when my feelings get hurt, I tend to not forget who hurt my feelings because I don't want them to do it to me again. I am guarded against that person. I usually start to not like that person because they hurt me. I also have these fake conversations in my head of what I really wish I would have said when they said something ugly to me. I just keep hitting rewind and I replay the scenario over and over and over in my head. It absolutely drives me crazy.

Friends, fake forgiving is neither healthy of beneficial to our well being. It does no good. To truly forgive, we have to take time to go through the healing process. Most of the time, the person that was ugly to me in the first place has no idea how deep they really cut me. I guarantee you that person is not losing sleep or having these crazy conversations in her head! I have just recently reached a point in my life where I understand the process of true forgiveness. In order for me to live a joyful, sane life that is not filled with garbage, I must forgive like God forgives me. I must be like Jesus on the cross and say, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34).

I know you have heard this a million times, but we have to pray for our enemies. This is such a testament of your mature life in Christ. When I began to pray for my enemy, the victim side of me began to kick and scream saying "She doesn't deserve your forgiveness! Don't you remember what she did to you? She hurt you so bad and now you are letting her off the hook?" Then, another side of me whispers these words of encouragement "Forgive her. Let it go. Stop letting her words eat you up inside." As I struggled with this wrestling match going on inside of my head, I finally just broke down and stopped fighting. I just prayed for God to show his love to me and to please help me forgive this person for what she did to me. After I did this, I was encompassed with God's peace and love. It is an amazing feeling to know that He is on my side. It was like seeing a rainbow after the storm.

This verse sums up everything, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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0 Dear God

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me and for forgiving me of my sins. This weekend was great. Thank you for keeping Ashley and I safe as we traveled to Memphis to see Beth Moore. You have blessed me with her friendship and I am forever grateful to have had a companion like her over all these years.

Jesus, I want to apologize for not fully focusing on you Friday night. Forgive me for paying more attention to Beth than you. I was awestruck and excited beyond myself and I am sincerely sorry that I had a false idolatry when YOU alone are the one that I should be awestruck by. Thank you for giving us women a mentor and teacher like Beth Moore. She is not putting on a show...she is the real deal...the living proof.

Thank you for your love. By your love, grace and mercy I know that you are my Savior. I can't live my life without you. Thank you for your encouragement and for taking all of my fears. Thank you for wrapping your loving arms around me on day 2. I was fully into you on Saturday and my life has been enriched from that message.

Lord, take me as you find me. I can't live my life without you. I love you and I desperately need you.

In Jesus name,

Amen




Till next time, let your light shine

blessings, christen

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1 Magnificent

Today I come to you with tired eyes and a slightly scratchy throat, but the experience that gave me these things was exceptional. As I mentioned last week, Raleigh and I bought tickets to attend the U2 concert in Atlanta. Yesterday we drove to the big city and had an awesome time letting loose to our favorite U2 songs. Sometimes it is nice to have a break from the usual routine. I put on a fun dress and my heels and shook my groove thing on a Tuesday night! I encourage everyone to take time out of their usual schedules and do something a little different this week.

We had seats in the nose bleed section but it didn't matter. The tour is named 360 because they built this amazing set to become more intimate with the audience. You can see in the picture below, but they nicknamed their set the "spaceship." Basically, there are these huge spider-looking legs coming from the four corners and where they connect is this big 360 degree screen that hangs above the band. So, even if you are sitting in the cheapest seats in the house (like us) you still have an up-close and personal view of the band. It was really a cool experience.


One thing that I love most about U2 is that they are a band that sings with a purpose. All of their songs have such profound meanings. Last night, they played one of my all-time favorites, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and as I was throwing my fist into the air I really took time to soak up the words. Another song that they sang was "Magnificent." Take a look at some of the lyrics to this song:

I was born, I was born to sing for you
I didn't have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice from the womb
My first cry, it was a joyful noise, oh, oh

As Bono sang these words, I was struck by the truth in them. This guy, this band, they are living out their purpose in life. God gave them the gift of music and they are using it to touch millions every single day.

I often struggle with the word purpose. To me, that word defines all that I am and all that God intended for me to become. I, like most of you, have read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and I know that my purpose in life is to glorify the Lord and to live my life according to Him. But, how exactly?

Romans 12:8 tells us, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

The word gifts comes from the Greek word charismata, referring to special gifts of grace - freely given by God to his people to meet the needs of the body. I think, if we take some time for intense self-observation, it is easy to recognize the gifts that God has given us. But, I think the part that makes it tricky is figuring out how to use these gifts to 'meet the needs of the body.' Going through our days, we have to remember to show our gifts of encouragement or service to others but we also should be making a conscious effort to plug ourselves into our gifts 100%. For adults, I believe that we should pick our jobs by using our gifts, not just working for the paycheck every month.

For some of us, is that easier said than done? How many people do we know that are unhappy with their current jobs? Or, they have been doing the same thing for so many years they don't even remember why they decided to do it in the first place? I know people in every stage of life from college to the age of 50 that wake up every day asking themselves, "Is this really what I am supposed to be doing with my life?" I think that some of us know what we want to do from an early age but many of us just end up in an unhappy place because we never really figured out what we are supposed to be doing. I know that sounds a little harsh, but I think it is a common struggle for many people. Or, I think some of us have dreams and we are too scared to drop everything and chase after that dream.

Friends, I want to give you this encouragement today. Do what you were born to do. We might not have all been born to be rock stars, but we were all born with gifts that are intended to be used. "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." - Romans 9:17.

God gave us gifts! He gave them to us out of grace and He expects us to use them to live according to His glorious name! Don't be afraid...I know it is so easy to worry about the what ifs of dropping everything. How am I going to pay my bills? Who will give me insurance? What if I fail? Is it too late to start chasing my dreams? Please hold true to this statement: God will provide for us. He provided for Moses and the Israelites when they needed food in the desert and HE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU. Trust in Him and He will bless you abundantly.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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