Give it to God!

Sometimes ... life doesn't make sense.
We question.
we doubt.
We wonder where God is and why he's even allowing this.

Trust me, I've been there.
When God had my church split.
When after the church split, our close, close friends turned on my family and got us kicked out.
When I had to move 300 miles from all our family and friends.
When my cousin's twelve day little girl passed away from heart failure.

I don't always understand why God allows what he allows. But I know he's bigger than my problems.

And yet, sometimes the hardest times are when those we love are struggling. When they are angry and frustrated. Because then there is nothing we - as fallible humans - can do. 

And that, if you'll pardon the phrase ... SUCKS! It's horrible. And we cry out to Jesus, "Lord! Why? They don't need this, that and the other thing!" 

A lady in our church is going through cancer. Again. 

My friend is struggling with an issue. 

My mom is struggling being far from her family. 

Why? Why does bad stuff happen to good people? 

Well, I can think of two, biblical reasons for that off the top of my.

1) It's a test. 

     In Job, God allowed Satan to test Job. To see if he'd stay faithful to him even through all the crap that was thrown at him. And Job did. He didn't "curse God and die" as his wife told him to do. He knew he'd done nothing wrong and that there was a reason for his suffering. 

And ...

2) It's a trial.

     A trial is different from a test. A trial molds us, makes us and helps us to rely fully on our Creator. He is the only one who can truly help us through the rough times. Peter, Paul, and all the other apostles went through these. God always brought them through. Always. Maybe not the way we think, because God's view isn't the same as ours. We only see one puzzle piece. he sees the big picture. The full battle plan and our mission on earth ends when we are called home. To heaven. The best place ever! And that's a summons I cannot wait for! 

But I digress. Our questions aren't always answered the way we like. Our mission may take, to us, a turn for the worse. 

I laugh when I'm not going through the crap. I laugh at how people can't seem to grasp that we only see one page in the book. We can't flip to the end, we can't skip the boring or terrifying parts. 

We can simply take it to God and walk the path he has given us. 

And in the case of friends and their struggles, take it to the Lord in prayer! Seriously guys! The mightiest weapon we have is prayer.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (NIV)

No matter the outcome of our prayers, God's plan, power, and love is greater than every trouble, trial, and pain filled day we face.

So no matter how rough or smooth, high or low, scary or comforting as the path we, our family member or friend faces is ... it's where God wants us and them. And honestly? What better place to be, then on the road of life with our Creator? 

 

HPA - The Epilogue of a Grand Adventure

My last post was about my amazing friends I'd made in HPA.

Now I want to talk about HPA itself. 

HPA has been in my life for over 5 years. HPA stands for Homeschool Preforming Arts and it is amazing! My first year I did the Kids! production of Aristocats. It was fun, but I didn't really do anything else until the next year when I did HPA camp 2011. That was  not such a great experience, as some of the kids were jerks and made me cry.

I don't know what incited me to go back the next summer. But I did and loved it! I did camp in 2013 and then auditioned for what us HPAers call a Main Stage Show. It was terrifying and what was worse was waiting a whole MONTH for the cast lists! 

When they finally came out, I was a nun in The Sound of Music. It was a nerve wrecking, but wonderful year as I learned multiple songs in Latin and got to be in my favorite musical. I made a few friends and was so ready for summer camp!

2014 summer camp found me in Encore camp, a higher, more intense drama camp for students serious in going deeper with drama. It was fun and I made some really great friends!

I auditioned and got into Beauty and the Beast as a enchanted object. That cast...it was like a giant family. Devotions every show were followed by a song based off a verse from Romans.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy,

And peace as we trust in him,

So that we may know and overflow,

With hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For He is good,

His love endures forever,

We walk in him

and live forever more.

It was so powerful, singing together. I had just gone through a very hard time with our church and was feeling bitter at it. Few people knew, but the power of the Holy Spirit was certainly there and it made me realize that not all "Christian" treated people the way I had been. 

This year I was in the Secret Garden as Mrs. Shelley. 

I've certainly had a year filled with drama (theatre and otherwise!) but I wouldn't change a thing. God uses everything in out lives, good and bad, to help us grow and mature in him. 

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.

Jesus knows what we need and he uses it for our good. And in every instance, we need to shine his light. We may be broken and tattered on the inside, but inside we carry a priceless treasure.

2 Corinthians 4:7 - 8

 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Tomorrow is the Cast Party and the end of my HPA adventure. I've learned a lot there. I know that where ever I go and whatever I do, God wants me to shine His Light everywhere.

HPA taught me to tell His story. His is part of my own and what ever I do, whether it be on stage or off, in private or seen by all, it needs to be for his honor and glory. 

My Secret Garden Adventure

Part of the Adventure is friends. I've been blessed with many friends from my drama group.  And I want to tell you about some of them that have been an amazing blessing to me this past year.

Now please know that if I don't mention you, you are no less important. These are just some of the people that I am thinking about as I write this. I think about all of you so much and "I thank my God in every remembrance of you." (Philippians 1:3)

Henry, Jonah, Heath, George, Ben, Zach, Zech and James - You guys! You crack me up and make me laugh so much. Yet, I feel like we can have a very serious conversation even while we joke and tease. You guys listen when I talk and offer a humorous solution.

Leelyn, Audrey and Anna - You girls are a strong pillar in my life. You are the ones I go to when something is going wrong. I know you'll listen when I have a problem and you pray for me when I need it. 

The Sarahs, Cari and Noelle - You gals are the laughter section! When I'm feelin' down I come to you to make me start laughin' again! But like the guys, I can have a serious conversation with you and being fellow females, we relate slightly better! 

The Kaitlyns - You two are some of my closest buds! Always ready with a hug and a back rub! We love to laugh and chat about anything and everything! I am so glad God put you in my life. 

There are so many, many many more, but these are the ones that have made such an impact on my life. This past year I've really gone on an adventure with them. God has blessed me with them and I want to take a moment to thank them. 

Ecclesiastes 4:12 

"And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

My friends, you have been with me through a lot this past year. I truly am blessed by each of you in so many ways it would take way to long to type them all out. But know this, I thank God for the time I had with you. it may have been three years or three months, but regardless it was the time we were meant to have together. 

I pray that I'll find friends like you in Illinois, but no matter who else I meet and where I go, know you'll always have a special place in my heart. 

It was truly an adventure my friends! Here's to many more; together and apart! 

God I thank you for these amazing people! Please bless them in ways we can't begin to imagine. Put people in there lives to bless them like they've blessed me. Fill their days with much laughter. Let your finger prints be evident in everything they do and everyone they meet. 

Thank you for letting them be in my life, Lord. I hope I have blessed them like they've blessed me. 

In Jesus's name I pray, Amen

Here We Are and Here We Stay!

Guys ... we made it!

It took forever. It was stressful and hard.

But, boy, is it worth it!

To finally be here, to start building relationships on this adventure, to be where God wants us and know without a doubt that we are meant to be here...I can't do it justice.

But is the devil ever hitting our house hard. He doesn't want us to be functioning the way we can. Tempers are short, the little ones are getting into everything (and that includes coloring the dog) and life is still crazy! Please continue to pray for us!

But being where God wants ... goodness ... nothing can compare!

I wanted to share a little about our new town and home in this post. 

Aledo is a little town, 3700 people the sign says when you enter. The town of Pride and Progress, it looks like something straight out of Andy Griffith. In short, it's adorable! :)

The town is so safe, Mom lets me go walking by myself with no worries and it is so fun to walk up and down the streets and enjoy this peaceful little town.

My family and I went to the school Winter concert and I was shocked. Not only where they an amazing choir and band, (over 100 kids are in the two bands. That makes up one-forth of the student body) but they sang the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the choir performance! In a public school! It absolutely floored me! 

The house was built in the 1880's and is so cool! My room has one of the smallest closets, but it has the attic stair case! The house has a servant staircase, and let me just say this now. THANK YOU! Thank you to the poor servants back in the day who climbed those stair uncountable times. They are so stinkin' steep! I almost fell the other day and had a mini heart-attack, cause boy would that hurt! 

There is beautiful wood work all through the house as well as a large kitchen and separate dining room. 

I am so blessed to have met three wonderful new friends: Gabby, Damon and Anna. They are all major Whovians like me and we love discussing all things superhero, Star Wars, Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings. 

God has brought us through so much and I know he is going to continue to bring us through much, much more. 

Thank you God, for this adventure. I know I've doubted. I know I will still to doubt sometimes. But you have me. You've never let go. I am where you want me. Use me how you will. I love you Lord. 

Amen.