Inching toward His plan

This week I have felt incredibly blessed.

As of lately I have felt incredibly burdened with figuring out what "the next step" should be since I quit going to school. My lease is up in June and I need to figure out 1. Where I am going to live; 2. What is going to be my "goal" to work toward; and 3. What steps I need to take to make it happen. I came up with a couple of feasible options, none of which really felt right at the time. 

So, I went up to Hope last Tuesday morning to help set up for YAC and spent the day in Cordova to save some gas money. While I was at Hope I talked to one of the leaders of YAC, Molly, about my frustration and outlined my options. After lunch I went to Starbucks and ran into the Marriage and Family pastor, Freddie. He asked what I was up to and I told him I was just trying to figure out what to do with my life- halfway joking- and he sat down and talked to me about it. That's not in this mans job description. I didn't even know that he knew who I was. This one gesture has made my "mega-church" church home feel so very quaint and approachable. My good friend from YAC came and met me at Starbucks shortly after. He knew about my frustration with the situation and just said "The fact that you're thinking about it (some kind of mission work) shows that you must desire it in your heart." In my heart? What is that? Some lovey-dovey phrase I'm not interested in... So I thought. 

So, I went back up to Hope and prepared for the service. Worship was incredible... as usual. One of the things I love about our service right now is the genuine out-pour of worship from both the band and congregation. Jim came up and spoke about listening for God- how to listen and how God speaks to us. In the sermon a couple of points really stood out to me:

Life is not about a to-do list. It's about a relationship with Jesus Christ- taking up your cross and following Him.

The bible is full of ordinary people being used by God to do extraordinary things.

We have been designed for God to speak to and through us.

Your gifts and talents often indicate the direction God has for you.

In order to hear God, we need to trust God- this doesn't mean just trusting God in what He's going to do through you but what He's going to do within you as well.

So, after the message, Jim gave us time to sit and listen to God. Through my prayer I recognized that what I truly desire is to serve God in a tangible way- to meet someone's physical needs. 

No, I haven't discovered exactly what this means and I haven't uncovered God's plan for me...

but I feel like through this discovery of my desire to serve, I'm inching toward it and that is SUPER exciting and relieving. Apparently, anyone that has known me for any amount of time has seen this in me, but I had been blinded to it. So my friends have been very unimpressed with this discovery, but nevertheless!

On another note, I have been struggling financially lately. Working at a frozen yogurt shop in the winter is rough. Luckily, some tight budgeting and a perfectly timed holiday and birthday enabled me to skim by. So, I've been praying for God to open doors for a new job and not only has that happened but business at work has started to pick up (pre-maturely) and I have been able to work more. So praise Him for answered prayers! My new job is at a restaurant my boss is opening on Madison. It will be awesome to have a change of pace and atmosphere is addition to what I'm comfortable with.

Grace and peace to you guys in the upcoming week! :)
lucy

One Day I'll Learn

You know the saying, "When God closes one door, He opens another?"

Yeah, well I was a little skeptical, but BOY was I naive.

A few months ago, I applied for a full-time baking job at one of the most well-known bakeries in town. I had frequented this establishment for years, knew the staff and owner, loved the product, and long story short-
I was led to believe that I had a shot and then got dumped in an e-mail.
Ouch.

So, for a few months now I've been feeling pretty sorry for myself until this past week. A good friend of mine gave me a book to read on fasting and stumbled upon this-

This passage of the book might as well have punched me straight in the windpipe. It reminded me of a sermon that my old youth pastor gave at a D-Now back in 2008. The theme for the weekend was "Work Hard" as if you are working for the Lord in all that you do. I'm not going to lie to you guys. I had been hardcore slacking at work. I didn't like it. I didn't want to be there. I was a terrible example to the staff under me... and I'm still not the best. But one of my coworkers asked me why I was different this past Valentine's week. I had worked 16 hours of an 18 hour day and still had a smile on because I knew that this "axe that I carry" is going to carry me to where God has planned for me to be... and that's what I told her and lately I've seen that her attitude has changed at work too.

Today I got several unexpected phone calls- about 3 different full-time baking jobs... and another opportunity at a restaurant opening in the next few weeks. So, I have some interviews to go to and a WHOLE lot of praying to do. When God closed that one door, He opened four others. It's so awesome how God works for us, and through us.

Lucy

Weekend in the ATL

This is going to be a quick one, so here goes:

Things I learned in Atlanta this week-
1. My parents are infinitely cooler than I give them credit for.
2. The CNN Center is in ATL. No, I don't watch the news, but this means I was possibly in the same city as the ultimate silver fox, Anderson Cooper, whom I love so much that he may one day be the namesake of my future son. Just kidding... but really :)
3. I absolutely love IKEA as much as I always knew that I would.
4. One can spend copious amounts of money on random items in IKEA that only individually range from $.99 to $3.99.
5. H&M is not all that it is hyped up to be.
6. Where Passion City Church gets its name, which leads me to...

Things I learned at Passion City Church this Sunday-
1. PCC is passionate about worship, ministry, it's causes (End It Movement), reaching Young Adults in ATL, and ultimately and most importantly- about reflecting Christ.
2. Chris Tomlin and David Crowder are amazingly talented. I've been reading Tomlin's books and listening to these guys since middle school so I guess I forgot how effective they are in leading worship. It really made me miss our old praise team. Leading worship during Primetime at BHBC (WAY back in the day,) was one of my first service outlets and I just thank God for what He did in me through the community there.
3. I should really just jot down all of my sermon notes because Louie Giglio is LEGIT, but in summary of his sermon:
Uninhibited worship is a reflection of one's wide-open awareness of what all God has done for us. Uninhibited worship glorifies God.
Glory is God's infinite and intrinsic weight and worth. It is lofty, mysterious, and emanates from God.
God and His glory are the thread connecting each of us to all of eternity. His glory connects all that was, is, and that is to come.
Grace connects us with the glory of God, without which would be unattainable.
When we fulfill our passions and gifts, we sync with the glory of God.
In order to worship God effectively and without inhibitions, we must reduce ourselves to a mere speck beneath the thread of God's infinite glory. 

Heavy stuff, right? It was a great experience and really made me excited for what we are trying to do in YAC right now. Hope everyone else had a great weekend as well!

Happy Monday!
Lucy

22 years young

Today I rang in my 22nd year of life. I had some time alone to reflect this morning and a time to be alone with God- thanking Him for all that He has done within me over the past year. I spent time with good friends and had the chance to serve again at Tuesday night YAC. It was really an ideal day.
At 22, I don't feel young. I don't feel old. I just feel ready... ready to do something bold but I'm not sure what. I'll be looking for opportunity.
Thank you to everyone who called or texted, facebooked, or met with me today. You guys sure know how to make a girl feel loved.
Lucy

#Blessed

First off, let me just take a moment to say how amazed I was with the turnout to the launch of our Tuesday Night service this week. We, as the core team, have been planning and praying for months for this service and even through this I had some doubts about what we were working toward. I feared that our efforts would be fruitless, but I really think this was the devil trying to discourage me. God came through and delivered more people than I could have ever imagined- 160 for our first service. I nearly broke down and cried during worship just from seeing His plan accomplished and a people thirsty for the message. It was incredible and reignited the excitement I had for the service initially. The worship and teaching was so empowering and I could really feel God's presence and hand over us. I can not wait for next week! If you're in your 20s or 30s you need to make it out to Hope at 7:00 on Tuesday. (Hollering at you, Sarai :)) Follow us on Facebook (Hope Young Adult Community) and Twitter (@HopeYAC #tuesdaynights) for more info and upcoming events.

This leads me to my second reason for this post...

God has really been revealing to me the importance of recognizing the devil. It is pretty natural for me to think of the battle over sin with God to be attributed to solely myself, and after discussing it with a few people far wiser then myself, I am certain that this must be part of how the devil gains footing within us. A few of these people enlightened me to plan for doubt and temptations- ways the devil stakes claim- for when we feel like this the devil is trying to reclaim us from where we stand close to God. I am currently reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. It is written from the perspective of the screwtape (devil) to his nephew and through his advice to claim the souls of his clients (us), one learns more about his/her own human nature as well as the nature of the devil. It is pretty difficult for me to interpret honestly, but I have been breaking it down and learning a lot. 

I have been so blessed as of late to be surrounded by friends who have been building me up and encouraging me. I feel like I have learned more and grown spiritually in the past few months than I had in the past year. Also, just in- Hope has also hired on a full-time pastor just for our community (who will start in a few weeks) which is another answer to our prayers. God is SO GOOD. :)

You guys have a good weekend!

Lucy

YAC Attack... via Facebook.

So this video has been blowing up Facebook all morning by me and other members of our young adult community at Hope. My good friend (whom I must add is INCREDIBLY talented) Jason Lee made this video highlighting the city of Memphis. We have been praying for the young adults in our city over the past month or so. It is our hope that young adults across the whole city of Memphis come together to join our community in this new Tuesday night service that we are starting up in January. Please join us in praying for our community and our city... and watch the video. It's good stuff!

(Also, a wee little side note- I have a job interview today for a full-time baking position so PLEASE lift this sister up in prayer. This would be an awesome opportunity for me to get my feet wet in the baking biz!)

Thanks guys
-L

Help is on The Way

Colossians 1:13-14

 ¹³ For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, ¹⁴ in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In my bible study tonight I was really drawn to this verse. Within the context, Paul and Timothy are saying that because of God's great love for us (His redeeming love) we should pray for and encourage one another. However, I could not help but think, how true is it that we still dwell in a world under the "dominion of darkness?" This past weeks events- the school shooting in CT and shooting of two police officers here in Memphis- make it easy to see that the darkness of this world is very real and near to us. 

It saddens me how nonchalant I have become in hearing these tragedies. I no longer am shocked by them because they are all too familiar. The local news features story after story of murders and civil unrest. So when I heard about the school shooting I did not mourn. Instead, the man that went into the school and shot those children and teachers and the man who shot the police officers fulfilled my expectation- that I will be continually disappointed by humanity. 

There is light in this darkness, though. Jesus Christ has rescued us from our sin and will one day come rescue us from the darkness of this world. But for now He offers us a peace over the havoc. Facebook was blown up with one status update after another calling for our King to come. That brings me hope- that our generation of believers leans into Christ and on one another amid tragedy. I am so grateful for the peace that God gives us and that the body of Christ is strong and uplifting, and I pray for the families of all those affected by the events this past week.

Don't forget to love on people. (This is really me telling myself.)

Lucy

Whoa there...

It's already December 13th!
Holy cow. This month is going by SO quickly and I have not been on the ball in the slightest. I only have one Christmas present purchased!

I haven't been working a whole lot here lately so I've done some knitting and organizing in our apartment. Our young adult community is in the middle of some changes. We're gearing up a new service on Tuesday nights starting in the new year that is aimed at reaching young adults across the whole city of Memphis. So that is exciting and I've been working with one of my friends on our little "coffee/snack team." I'm really excited to be involved in the changes and here for the beginning of what I think is going to be a really great event for people my age. God has been working a lot in me this past year and I am just happy to have an outlet for service until Multinational starts back in February.

I have decided to take a break from college. I am really burned out between work and school and at this point I don't know what I want to pursue as a career goal. Therefore, I am taking some time to pay back some of my student loans and really delve into discovering the way I am meant to fulfill God's purpose for my life. I feel Him drawing me out from where I am and into something new and this is my leap of faith into the unknown. It's exciting and a little scary but I know that I am in God's hands and that He will provide.

In other news, Mary and I ran the Ugly Sweater 5k this past Saturday. It has been unseasonably warm this winter so it was really fun to get out and see people decked out in their Christmas gear. It was my first 5k and it was untimed (thank goodness!) but we had a lot of fun.

Saturday was also the day of our YAC Christmas party. It was good to hang out and Jackie made these AMAZING stuffed mushrooms. (I'm such a foodie- yes. Food is always my focus.) So, it was a busy weekend!

My baby seestor is coming in town in a week and I am SO excited. I haven't seen her since September and I have missed her so much. It's crazy how much closer we've become the past couple of years. But I am getting my apartment ready for her to come stay with us. My tree has been up for about a month now.

No DIYing today...

It has been a while... once again. I begin many a post with "So, it's been a while." Not a lot has been going on in the realm of crafting/cooking. I'm still baking with YoLo bakes and have been making cupcake orders out of home, so I'm just about all cupcaked out. Not feeling very cake-creative so I'm trying to hold off for a couple of weeks in order to be on top of my game for... my FIRST WEDDING! It's a cupcake wedding cake for a couple of friends of mine done pro-bono, but I am still SO excited to get the experience.
In other news, I have picked up a couple of pieces to refinish- yardsale end table and a cool old dining chair off the side of the road (That's how I roll.) I'll start on those soon (hopefully) so I'll be able to post about those soon.
Have a good weekend!- L

Hello again...

Let's see... Since the last post we bought a pottery barn chaise for the woman cave and hung up my cute little shaded string lights.

 I bought a kitchenaid mixer.

Isn't she lovely?

and I have put her to use! I have decided to start up a little side business-

wait for it...

minttobebakery.blogspot.com

Check it out!

 I got back from a trip with my family to Gulf Shores last night.

Little sister is leaving to move to Wisconsin in mid-August so I will be trying to pack in some seestor time the next few weeks.

That's about it. I've been slacking on my DIYing and cooking up a storm.

I started a new bible study 3 weeks ago so when I have a moment, I'll post about that. 

Happy Hump Day!

Productive Day Numero Dos

Boy, am I good or what?! Two days in a row. I am on a roll!

Today after work I went and bought some scrapbook paper and water cups and made these cute string lights to go in my woman cave. I LOVE them. They aren't too bright with the paper shades and they look fantastic with the grey walls!

 While I was slaving away at dinner/ crafting, Mary went to her farm house to pick up our dining room table. It's simple and I LOVE it. I can't wait to get the chairs and pinterest it up with cute cushions/ centerpieces. 

{2} Shades of Grey

Don't worry. This isn't my own cheesy version of a sketchy romance novel. We're talking grey walls here, people.
Over the weekend I got a little apartment beautification done. Neither Mary nor I have done much at all in the way of decorating since we moved in because of our busy schedules. Mary and I made it to Home Depot this afternoon to purchase some new paint for our sun room. We are obviously very serious about home improvement.

 

We painted it grey once before, but as you can see in the picture below, we didn't choose a shade that was notably different.

However, we were THRILLED with how today's paint selection turned out!

I like to call it my woman cave.

I also finally bought chalk for my chalkboard window pane. I LOVE it! It's going to be our weekly menu board.

More to come when I find the time to do more DIYing. (hopefully soon!)

Fret not..

Mega-post to come!
I have been busy, busy, busy.
I've been working a ton and also packing up my life for the great move of 2012...
Coming this Friday.
Excited and dreading it!
But, on the bright side my new apartment = a ton of cute things to post about... when I get to it.

Tonight I had a sort of last hurrah fancy dining night with my YoLo girls. We went to Flight. The atmosphere was beautiful. The service was great. The food was incredible and came in TINY portions. Really, it was laughable. But we had a lot of fun getting all dressed up and people watching.

Anyway! More posts to come after the move.
<3 Lucy

Quinoa noodles!

Check this out. Plain old pasta right? Wrong! Gluten free quinoa and corn spaghetti noodles with gluten free Alfredo sauce. And it was delicious! Maybe better than regular noodles. Random purchase from whole foods well spent.

Prayer please!

So, my mom went to the doctor this week and they found and removed a tumor along with some other abnomalities. They are doing a biopsy to determine whether or not they my be cancerous. Please pray for my mom (and my dad/family too) while she waits for results.

Also, I am going to be a counselor at Opportunity Camp this year. It is my first year going but I am so excited! My mom actually went when she was a kid so it's kind of funny how life comes around full circle and we get to bless those who have blessed us. There is a prayer list for the camp below. Please take a minute and pray for me and the other counselors, staff, and most of all the children that are coming. Thank you guys!

Counselors – They are caring for the children 24/7.

They need strength, patience, love, grace, and a Christ-like attitude.

Bible Study Teachers – They are with the children for 1 hour each day.

They need clear teaching, discernment, understanding, patience, and sensitivity.

Craft Helpers – They are with the children an hour each day.

They need endurance, patience, and creativity to share Christ's love through art.

Track Time Leaders – They are teaching children a useful skill for an hour each day.

They need endurance, patience, clear English, and an encouraging attitude.

Recreation Leaders – They are with the children an hour each day.

They need energy, keen eyes and ears for problems/injuries, patience, and love.

Opportunity Camp Staff – They oversee all activities, solve problems, equip leaders, and stay all week with both camps. For a year they have been prayerfully planning camp. They need endurance, understanding, patience, love, mercy, grace, discernment, wisdom, and ferver. Their names are: Elesia Turner, Richard Bushart, Beth Cox, Laurie Graves Morris, Amy Dale, and Emily Cox.

THE CHILDREN:

Sudanese and other Africans – They come from war-stricken countries and still fight discrimination in their own communities here. Some are muslims. Some are Christians. Many of them feel and are told they cannot accomplish things their peers can do. They need encouragement to grow into who God wants them to be.

Vietnamese and other Asians – They come from communities that fled former wars. They are struggling to make better lives for their families. Many of them are shy and are not open to sharing about their life. They need courage and openness. 

Hispanics – They come from protected communities that are very proud of their heritage. Many are Catholics but have no real understanding what a relationship with Christ is like. They need discernment and wisdom to see the difference in what they have always known and what they need.

Overall – There are other groups that attend camp. Regardless who they are or where they're from, they all need: CHRIST, love, conviction, wisdom, grace, and salvation.

WHAT CAMP NEEDS:

Harmony & Unity - With children of so many different races, religions, and backgrounds, it's imperative that there is a positive and loving atmosphere at camp. Unity and a serving attitude are also extremely important for the staff and volunteers to maintain as they pour all they have into the children and each other.

IMPORTANT TIMES:

Worship Service - At 7:30 each night there is a worship service. Music with fundamental truths is taught. A Bible story is taught and the Gospel is clearly presented each night. Pray for us during this time.

Bible Study – This is the time when if a child is going to give their life to Christ, this is it. Pray for attentiveness and that God's word would not be distracted. Because it is so important to the kids, here are the exact time when it will be happening:

Boys' Camp: Saturday-Monday at 3:30pm & Tuesday at 8:30am.

Girls' Camp: Tuesday-Thursday at 3:30pm & Friday at 8:30am.

Hangout Fest 2012

So, I have the coolest job ever right now. They're super flexible around my school schedule. I work with some really cool people and I get to eat an obscene amount of sugary goodness on the daily. However, none of these perks will ever add up to the ultimate perk of working at YoLo. 

An all-expense paid trip to Gulf Shores for the week for Hangout Fest.

That's right. My job paid for me to go kick-it on the beach and see the love of my life, Dave Matthews. 

The ladies of YoLo soaking up some sun

 Leils and I had to hit up a tacky souvenir shop.

 The whole Hangout crew

 This was my work space between concerts. It took me a while to realize why people were taking pictures with our airstream. Duh, YOLO. Silly Drake, YoLo is for yogurt local.

 Betsy and I before M. Ward

 We were so close!

Me, Betsy, and Elizabeth before Dave.

The weeks end

So this weekend is particularly sweet because I am going to be out of the store for the next 8 days! Over the weekend I spent some time with my good friend Leila, who just got back from opening a YoLo in Owensboro, KY. We went to Greek fest at the Greek orthodox church around the corner from my parents house and had a blast eating our weight in Greek food. We also went to the farmers market and got flowers for our moms and grandmas. I'm so glad to have her back!

Mini Apple Pies!

So, my awesome friends, Brandi and Maggie (adorable girls pictured above) got me this nifty little pie maker for Christmas and since the semester is FINALLY over, I had time to whip it out!

 Rolling out my mini pie crusts

 Gooey apple filling 

 10 minutes and VOILA!

They are so freaking cute- I can't get over it and  delicious too!

Projects

I have approximately a month and a half until I move and I am getting pretty excited about decorating the apt. I've made up a pinboard on pinterest and have started a couple of projects. Brittany and I were driving down Walnut Grove on the way to Osaka (I LOVE OSAKA.) and I made a u-ey when I saw these window panes laying on the side of the road. It looks a little rough at the moment but after I finish out this semester I'm going to fashion it to look something like the bottom picture. 

My second on-going project is a bedside table. I also found this on the side of the road. People throw away the coolest stuff, although the first picture was taken after some sanding and tlc. It looked ROUGH. 

Sanded and painted it looks a lot better but I feel like it is a little too bright so I am going to work on distressing it. 

But that's what I've got going on at the minute- finishing up school and working on craft stuff. What have you guys been up to?

<3 lucy

Reflection on Perceptions

I feel like in society today, people have really started to embrace individuality and respect the differences that make each one of us unique. So it has become easy to have a "I don't care what people think of me" mindset. In all honesty though, I still care very much and not because I am a very insecure person, but because I think it is important to consider the perception you are sending out to the world. When I first started this blog I was very hesitant to share anything about my faith because I didn't want to be perceived as someone who is too forward with my beliefs. I was afraid to share anything personal with people in general because I didn't want people to refer back to something if it wasn't a shining moment. But there came a point where I had to decide to broadcast the real me, not the politically- correct, refined version. 

While the "I don't care what people think of me" mindset is beneficial in the development of self-esteem in youth, this mindset for us as young adults- and especially as Christians, should concern us. I had a conversation with a friend of mine over the weekend about the struggle between partaking in the social norms of our generation versus maintaining a lifestyle reflective of his desire to serve Christ. This conversation mainly encompassed the consumption of alcohol and use of fowl language. Drinking alcohol in itself is not a sin, in my opinion and neither is swearing. However, Titus chapter 2 clearly states that we are to "to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good(v.3)" and also to "say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (v.12-14)." My main concern with these things is that both hurt your ability to witness to other people. Although these are (arguably) not moral issues, the consistent presence of either depicts a life not centered in Christ which is so selfish because He bought us at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20.) I feel a responsibility to honor God with my life and have convictions against doing things that are ungodly, not in expectation of justifying salvation but because my life is HIS. 

Now, I am not saying that you are a better Christian for never drinking or swearing. I am just saying that I really feel like it is important for each of us to ponder the perception we have with non-believers and let the perception we desire shape our actions to benefit the expansion of the kingdom of God. 

-lucy