Football Season!

What I've learned in the past two days. The last blog I talked about opening my eyes and seeing God today and spending time with Him. The next night I read in Isaiah 1:18 that "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." If that doesn't make ya nervous I don't know what else will. It is amazing what happens when I am obedient and stay in God's word. What is so cool about God's word is it meets us where we are. Wherever we are in life, that's where the bible meets us and that's exactly where God meets us too. At church today we sang Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, and after singing that hymn, we just kept singing open my eyes. What the heck? I guess its good to go to church and always feel like God is talking to you. So, in the past few days I've learned how forgiving God is to me and my selfish ways. I've learned that if I don't live for today, in the present, I might miss something Big. I've learned that it doesn't matter how long its been or how far away from God I feel, He is always there and he welcomes my praise, prayers, worries, and worship at any time. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

I also learned that Tech football needs to not get so many penalties in one football game, and I am so excited about football season this year. I hope everyone had a good first week and is having a good labor day weekend. I love getting comments from you guys and reading your new posts. I want to know what you've learned or what God is teaching you. So when you get a chance let me know. Miss you guys. Oh and p.s. Missy was at the Tech game yesterday and Dan was with her. I approve 100% so no worries. He's a great guy. Oh and we felt bad for the Aggies, a little bit anyway. 

Schro, hope Austin is good! 

Bick...what do you want for your birthday?

Shayla, post something new.

Erin, I miss New York and I hope you are feeling better! 

Really?

"He moves mountians without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the starts. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him." Job 9:10

I read this verse last night and I couldn't believe what it said. All the power and glory of God, and yet I don't see Him in my everyday life. It's not that He isn't there. It's that I am so caught up in my small little life I have a hard time seeing Him. It's sad really. The maker of the stars passes by and I don't even recognize Him. I think sometimes I wish I was living in a different time period of my life. My time is consumed with what the future holds and what I need to get done before tomorrow gets here. I look back and wish I was still in 2nd grade and didn't have to worry about this grown up stuff. I wish I was in high school with all my friends. I am never completely satisfied with what God has for me today in this moment, in this period of my life. I was caught off guard at how many other things consume my time except for what is really important. I want to be able to recognize God in my everyday life. And to do so I must spend time with Him and learn from His word, which takes time, which means my priorities have to be a little different, which means I only have today to get that right. Just like the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle said, "We don't have yesterday, its over, we don't have tomorrow because its not guarenteed. We only have today to get things right." I think that message is just now sinking in. 

"And that is why I love team sports." 

-Erin Thomason

All the other olympic posts have inspired me. Kristin, making gold medal cookies was great. We know that eating is celebrating. Bick, when I had to wait on you to read the blog from ESPN.com, it made me happy. Because I realized my friends care about important things. Erin, listening to you yell at the tv makes me all warm inside. What would the sports world do without people like us. And watching world records be broken with best friends is what the olympics is all about. How can you not love sports? 

“Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.”

Have you ever wondered how you got to the place in your life where you are somewhat grown up? And when did it even happen. It seems like yesterday summers lasted for what seemed like forever, and chasing the ice cream man down the street was the biggest worry of the afternoon. Then one day I am working 8-5 in an office and wondering what I am going to do with the rest of my life. My funny stories go from falling out of a tree to a lady in the office jamming the shredder. My life has somehow become beyond boring. And to make matters even better friends of mine are getting married and moving on to new and exciting things in their lives. Too bad I can't just worry about having the biggest water gun in the neighborhood and have popsicle eating contests after riding bikes to the park. Instead of having conversations that involve splatterball, capture the flag, and who won the monopoly game, my conversations involve politics, voting, money, bills, careers, degrees, stock market trades, and of course who won the baseball game the night before. I guess life keeps going and you just keep growing up whether you want to or not. 

"I've decided that with friends like ya'll I don't have to worry about ever growing up."

NEW YORK

TIMES SQUARE

LEGO LADY OF LIBERTY 

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING 

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

New York survived Erin and I. We managed to escape with minimum damage. Just some damage to our credit cards. It was a great trip. No plan is a fun plan. Not knowing where the subway will take you can lead you to one of the best adventures. Looking like a tourist is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Thanks Erin for letting me go to New York City with you. It was awesome. And thanks to all of you who behaved at Starbucks. 

A Great Experience

I got back from Canada Sunday night and tomorrow night I am leaving for New York City, the big apple, the city of all cities. 

While in Canada some amazing things happened. When I got back from Canada some pretty exciting things have taken place as well. Its funny how God works things out in his time, for His glory, for a purpose, for a reason, and its funny how I (a small human being) question his greatness and His plans for my life. I'm not saying I have it all figured out, but this summer has helped me learn a lot about myself, and I think I have changed a little bit throughout this process. And change is a good thing. I realized I was right where I needed to be this summer. And I know Erin was questioning things too, I think in a way we all are. But its crazy once you realize that He does have a purpose and He is always at work in your life. I met some wonderful people in Canada, and met some amazing friends from Paramount that I didn't even know existed until this trip. Going on this trip with no expectations was exactly the right thing to do. The trip exceeded my expectations. 

Every camper at basketball camp learned Micah 6:8. It says, "God has told you what is good. He has told you what He wants from you: Do what is right to other people. Love being kind to others. And live humbly, trusting your god." To see the seven girls on my team get excited about knowing this verse was an amazing experience. For them this verse was more important than making a free throw. I think sometimes I miss what is most important but these 9 year olds helped me see the big picture. My friend Hannah did not have a bible at home until last Thursday when I got to be the first person to hand one to her. Thinking about her taking it home and sharing it with her family made me so happy inside. These kids were so willing to learn and so interested in the bible and all it had to say. The last day over 100 kids and parents came to see scrimmages and eat a hamburger. They were so appreciative of the work we had done and that in and of itself was a blessing. I was told Canadians were hard people to get to know, and they didn't open up and become friendly very quickly. I found this to be far from the truth. They were some of the nicest, most unselfish people I have met in my life. I would not change a thing about this mission trip and being able to serve God through a sport I love was wonderful.

Now, start spreadin the news....I'm sure there will be some great stories to come from an adventure to New York with a best friend. Maybe there will be some items brought home to share with my best friends...we will just have to see. 

How the heck do I add music to my blog?

Erin, I don't need a smart remark....and I know you are laughing right now.

To Canada and back

My basketball team for the week.

They became pretty good friends by the last day.

The lake looked like the ocean this evening. 

The views from the golf course I got to play on one afternoon.

A great view from way up on the mountain while biking the last day.

Canada was one of the best trips I have been on. The people I got to know who were a part of the team from the church were great. And the Canadian people were so nice and fun to get to know. I have met a lot of neat people in the past week and it was a neat experience. The oldest member of our mission team was Gerald who celebrated his 76th birthday in Canada doing mission work with us. The youngest member was eight year old Caroline. And many different ages and walks of life in between. We had 11 decisions for Christ at the basketball camp. And that was worth the 22 hour trip there and back. I learned a lot last week about God's love, and about myself, and I learned how to love others and be intentional. I am so glad that I was a part of what happened in Canada and that for some reason I was chosen to be a part of this mission trip. I'm sure there will be some more pictures and great stories to come.