What Are You Talking? God Is What I'm Talking.

So, come to find out, this "What are you talking?" is a new phrase I obviously invented today. I just thought it was hilarious, so it's today's topic. What's most important about today is the fact that God works in mysterious ways, and I'm sometimes oblivious to the fact that He does or I'm just too busy to figure that fact out. Or should I say that I'm too lazy, ridiculous, and/or impatient to figure God's ways out?! All of those would apply at times.

Today, however, I noticed it. I stopped at many points in my day to just thank Him for His goodness, mercy, and awesomeness. Here's what happens in a day when you let God take control and you take notice... Oh, and I'm putting God on the point system today... He's really outdone Himself.

• He gives you the greatest friend ever to spend the day with. (1,673,000 points to the Man Upstairs for just being Him; 2,000 for kindred spirits found between two friends; and 5,000 points for Your giving me a friend who is true, makes me feel secure, sees me for me, and loves wasting the day away)

• He's molded that friendship into one I'd never imagine having, yet has become the most precious thing in my life recently. (100,000 points for His Amazing Ways of Working; 75 points for Mardi's big glasses and hilarious talks)

• This friend and I eat at Olive Garden which just happens to be my favorite place EVER, and I just so happen to have a gift certificate to there I'd completely forgotten about. (75 points for the food He always provides me with and an extra 100 points for making that certificate appear because the 7 bucks in my checking account only go so far...)

• We spent 2 hours at Target... 2 hours. I didn't get bored, not once. I've never enjoyed Target like I did today. We bought baby gifts, wedding shower gifts, and randomly searched through every aisle to find "French Women Don't Get Fat." LOL. During this alotted time, we made 15,000 phone calls and learned about kitchen utensils we'd never even heard of before. The phrase, "What are you talking?" was invented while at there today. I, in my strange way of doing things, seem to ignore people when I'm on a mission buying baby and wedding gifts. It's hysterical. Mardi would say something clever or just ask a question, and I'd totally miss it, thus "What are you talking?". (50 points for Your giving us Target Time; 75 points for providing me the opportunity and money to get my friends great gifts; 80 points for good times and friendship; 25 points for Your making me incredibly A.D.D. and ignoring Mardi which helped in the creation of my new phrase; and a bonus 100 points for allowing me the opportunity to realize how wonderful my life is)

• Starbucks was the place to be today. No joke. We walked in to get our Fraps (I have no clue how to spell the whole word), and I see one of my favorite people in the world, only because he was this awesome kid who made my working at the Credit Union worthwhile. So I say hi, and in my A.D.H.D. way of doing things, kept walking to get my drink. UNTIL I notice one of the greatest people I've ever met sitting with Mr. One of my Favorite People. This recollection could go on for hours as our conversations did; however, I'd like to make mention of a few things. After talking inside for a good 20 minutes, we convince the guys to head outside, in light of the "gorgeous" day, that only began the madness. Who knew the temperature could drop in 19 seconds and who knew that boys love Cyndi Lauper and like making deals about wearing pink?! I sat there looking at the clouds and thought about how blessed I was. (100 points for Your giving the person who created Starbucks a creative mind; 200 points for creating favorite people; 200 points for great kids with facial hair and piercings and guitars and for their amazing talents; 15 points for blessing me and most of my friends with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. for it's been a wonderful addition in most of our conversations and makes for one extremely fun hour or two; 1,000 points for a beautiful day and Your awesome handiwork; 85 points for Cyndi Lauper and ringtones; 100 points for the color pink and boys who are manly enough to wear it and an extra 25 points for putting these boys in my life randomly; and 1,000,000 points for the opportunity to catch up with people who mean so much to me that are positive Christian friends)

• We then headed to Brentwood Baptist for Kairos, a praise and worship service for college-aged students. It was incredible. Something I've been so strongly burdened for was tonight's message... The Lord's Supper. I know how wonderful it is and what it represents; however, it wasn't until tonight that I became aware of why it means so much to me and has for years. It's because The Lord's Supper is personal. It's not something that should be passed out to everyone. I believe Jesus Christ intends for His believers to take it in remembrance of Him. It's purely personal; no one can say how we pray or feel when taking it, it is something we do to honor and reverance our Lord. Praise songs were AMAZING. I just love hearing words that truly honor God. I want my life to be a song that blesses His name. (100,000,000 points for the experience You have given me tonight; for making me want my relationship with You to be personal; that it's more than just "accepting" You; it's about You being my friend; it's about how I prayed and found salvation on my own with You right there with me; it's about having Christian friends that share my faith and hold me accountable... Let me just throw in that these points are endless for this particular gift You have given me tonight, Lord.)

I didn't imagine my Spring Break to be this way. Spring Break has usually been about beaches, beads, and beer. I'm so thankful God has changed that in me. He's made me the person I should have always been. And even when I don't see Him or at least take the time to, He's always there giving me blessings untold. I love how the Lord works. I love how true He is. I love that's He's bigger than anything else in this world and that He always finds a way to show me... like today. What am I talking? I'm saying that God is good all the time; we just have to open our eyes, hearts, and lives to let Him in.

I'd Be Lying If I Didn't Say...

• Last night might have been one of the greatest nights of my life.
• Sharing testimonies, feeling the Spirit, and understanding doubts with a friend is the sweetest piece of grace I've ever received from the Lord.
• The friend understands me better than I understand myself, and I know everything about him without his knowing so.
• The Lord has built what was a horrible relationship into the best friendship I could have ever imagined.
• He is the best guitarist I've ever heard, and he's going to teach me how. Thanks for the lesson last night.
• My guitar sounded A-M-A-Z-I-N-G when my friend was playing it, despite what he thinks and says...
• Michelle Branch and Aslyn brought about one of the strangest moods I've ever had, and just sitting in that room, hearing their voices, and singing with him was pure contentment.
• Garden State is a fantastic movie. I've never felt more at ease or comfortable with myself as I did when I watched that movie.
• Peach oatmeal is disgusting. Period. Makes no difference if you use water or milk. It's just gross. OH, but thank you for making it for me.
• Our honesty with one another about what happened with us, about our faults, about trusting God, and about where we want our lives to go goes against my wanting to hide my feelings. He brings out the best and worst in me, and I'm thankful for that.
• I feel human when I'm with this friend. I'm not overwhelmed; I am insecure at times, but then he reassures me not to be; I feel comfortable and safe when he looks at and talks to me. I feel like this is what God wants a friendship to be like, and even though, we've dated, I have no doubt about our intentions. I know he loves me, and I know that we're always going to be friends.
• That no one should never stay up until 5:00 in the morning. You'll have the worst headache ever.
• Eyedrops are a gift from above. My eyes breath because of you.
• I didn't know how fun sitting on a couch, doing nothing, would be.
• God has a hand in this. Another friend of mine last week told me to ask God to give me the opportunity to share my testimony, my faith, God's love with someone each week. I was discouraged because yesterday was the last day in the week, and I hadn't talked with anyone. Last night changed that. We shared our testimonies, and we discussed how God has moved into my life. He doesn't always feel that, and maybe this is why God waited until last night to open up this particular door for me and for him...

Nothing Matters Like These People Do

My friends that I never see anymore have become a huge part of my life recently. I cannot go to bed tonight without mentioning some of their names... I am blessed beyond measure.

(In no particular order...)

• Jase has become the friend I never thought I'd need, but just sitting in his presence makes me realize how God works. I ate supper at his place tonight, and seeing his smile, hearing his jokes about me, and talking about nothing made everything so easy. I never have to doubt with him; I know he's my best friend, and he knows I am his.
• Jerm is truly a miracle of God. After almost losing his arm in a freak accident a few weeks ago, his humility and patience overwhelm me. He makes me want to be a better me. His obnoxious way of calling me an idiot, never saying my name but this hideous nickname he gave me when we were kids, making me cut his fingernails, taping his bandages for him, yelling over the Duke game, and reading his fifth grade poetry book tonight were memories I will never take forgranted. I love him more than life itself. He is everything to me, and almost losing him was enough to remind me that God wants us in each others' lives.
• The Ghost from my past has really stepped in lately. We hadn't seen each other in five years, but after that time and space, somehow and in someway we manage to have the strongest friendship we've ever had. Our late night phone calls and honest remarks that cut to the bone oftentimes are a true testiment to a great relationship. I'm so proud of him for what he's becoming, what he's finally doing with his life; he's going to be so important one day... I'm just glad I realized how important he was to me over 10 years ago.
• Random phone calls from a random guitarist really enlighten me, excite me, and intrigue me. He has taught me more about relationships than I could EVER expect to know. In that process, he has taught me what friendship is. I'm so thankful that he considers me a friend, and despite my innocent nature, he finds me exactly what he needs.
• K. Howard is my true blue friend. We met each other in American Sign Language class, decided to become partners for the homework in there, and haven't been able to STAND being separated by states. I love her more than she'll ever know. She opens up her house to me, makes sure I'm warm, listens to my advice, and makes me laugh, usually in one sitting. There is none like her. She's everything to me.
• Lindsey Lo has brightened my days by just sending hearts and updates almost daily. Everyone needs that friend that just makes you feel better by just having them in your life. Lo does that for me. I'm honored to be her friend after years of thinking we could never be. She's a complete doll, a true, beautiful friend.
• I have to mention the friends that I have recently come back into my life though only years ago we were inseparable... Brit, Em, Erica, Cec, Jess... You girls have completed me for years; from cheerleading to choir, from singing at the apartment and at campfires, from teaching to understanding me and my fears, from Kiss Me Kate to our freshman year, from the Beatles' music and boyfriend hook ups to Math Team and everything else in between. You all have been there for me when I've needed you, and I cannot tell you how much I love you for that.
• Oh, there's this group of people who make friendships SO worth their while... My church friends, from Victory, McFerrin, and everywhere else... I won't mention your names because you know who you are and you know why I love you so much. Life has taken us in different directions, but God has given us a bond that will never subside. I will miss corn on the cob, being Not That Far From Bethelhem, Catch Phrase hilariousness, not understanding boys and nodding along, and Jamaican bonds of friendship that have carried on back home... I love you, I miss you, and more than that, I'll see you all when we get home if not before.
• The Rock makes my life make sense. She understands it all. She inspires me to inspire others. She's amazing. She praises the Lord when praising Him is not the cool thing to do. She shows me what a friend should be. I just miss her so much...
• The Mac has given me more in friendship than I have gotten in 23 years. We've only known each other about a year, yet I feel like she's part of my family and I a part of hers. Something about feeling each others' pain, understanding trials, hysterical laughter, and pirates have brought us closer than I could explain. Even when we don't talk like I know we wish we could, I feel her with me.
• Mardi B. is a kindred spirit kind of friend. She knows when I am hurting, she knows when I need to laugh and when I'm ready to be quiet. She prays for me when there's nothing to pray about. She shows in her actions through cards and phone calls how much I mean to her. What I've figured out is that I don't deserve her, yet I'm so blessed and thrilled to have her in my life. Date Night is my favorite night of all times!
• Jeeca is the most important part of my life without doubt. The first and only friend I've ever had the audacity to be a complete fool towards, she has stuck by me like only a sister can do. I wasn't what I should have been to her, and I could never repay her for the love she gave me when I was unlovable. She is my best friend. No one could ever mean to me what she does. You have to know her to understand.

And last but not least:

• My dearest friend, the closest one I will ever and always have, my Lord and Savior. You are there when none of these are, and I put You last so many times before now. My life is all because of You, and I take that forgranted so many times. You make each day what it is, You make me feel safe and secure, and more than that, You are the one who gave me all of these wonderful friends, and I will never cease to praise you.

Some People Say What I Mean To

"God is constantly molding and shaping those who seek Him, I think I am starting to feel the burn... I have no idea what that means except that I am excited to see what He is doing."

I read this tonight in a new friend's blog, and was totally overwhelmed by what she had said. It was more beautiful than I think even she knew, but I read it time and time again because she took the words right out of my mouth. I have "felt" God so much more lately than I have in years. When I say years, I mean like almost five of them or at least that many. I have been on FIRE for the Lord this week. Nothing has been able to bring me down; it's like I wake up ready to give my day to God, and when I do that, nothing can stand in His way. I understand the "burn" because I have it. I want to see what God can do, what I know He can do, how He's been wanting to for so long... So I've been molded and shaped, and I'm continually growing in His will, and I cannot wait to see what happens when the fire is truly lit.

Best Believe, He Takes Care of It All...

Jeremy went back to the doctors today to get the wrappings off of his arm and wrist... Here's the email I got from his mom. From what I've been told, he had a rough day as it became very real to him how injured he actually was...

I just wanted to let you know how Jeremy was doing. We went back to the surgeon today and everything seems to be doing well. His main concern now is to get movement back into the wrist and hand so the tendons that he repaired won't "lock-up" and impair movement. He is still reserving judgement on the skin graft on the hand and will look at it again next week when the stitches come out.

After seeing Jeremy's arm today it is truly a miracle that his hand is still there. I am so very thankful that God was watching over him and I know that things could be so much worse than they are. We can't express our gratitude over everyone's love and concern for Jeremy and ask for continued prayer for him. He has taken the first steps on a very long road to recovery.

Thank you so much for your prayers; Jerm's doing great considering. He's got months of physical therapy ahead so it's going to get tough, but there's nothing God can't do. He's going to take care of this too.