Tonight I went to a church worship night. It was one of four nights at The Father's House and this was my first experience there. So as much as I would like to say that I went purely for the worship and message, I did not. I also went to see what it was like and if what people were saying about it was true.
Well, it was. Not only is it a huge building, but the number of people there was staggering for a girl who grew up in a church of 10-15 people and moved to a church of 100-200 to this. I walked in and the first thing I saw was a gift shop area. A GIFT SHOP AREA IN CHURCH?! What the...?! But I was able to get over it fairly quickly because there was so much to see!
After a few minutes, we all found our seats and that's when the fun began. Worship was pretty good but I felt like it was more of a concert than anything. Once the first part of worship came, there was an announcement about how you could buy shirts that they were selling for this four day event. Kind of annoyed me and maybe it's because I have never been to a church like this, but I felt like they were more intent on focusing on people buying things and giving for the offering (if you're an online watcher, donations are accepted through pay-pal).
But then the speaker for the night started worship back up/kept it going (depending on how you look at it) and it was so amazing.
Now, I believe that God performs miracles but because I have never grown up around prophecy, it's still new to me. So I was a little out of my comfort zone but there were some truly miraculous things that happened tonight. Because of tonight's events, I will never be the same. And while it's not something I can describe, it's something I can show with my life. So that's what I'm going to do.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A wrap-up of 2010 and the beginning of 2011
So I know that it has been a while since I last posted anything. In fact, I haven't posted anything since before Thanksgiving break 2010 so here it goes...the wrap up of 2010 and some random thoughts from 2011. So please be patient with all of the jumping around that I do with topics.
Finals week (for the two days I was here) went by really fast but not without some stumbling blocks. It's funny, it was only two days, but in those two days, I had to confront demons that I never thought I would have to face again. But I dealt with them thanks to a few amazing people in my life.
Once I got home and settled into a routine, time started to fly. Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve and Natalie and I were singing in church and then we were waking up early and going to Courtney and Nate's for Christmas Day. I wasn't working so I had a ton of lazy time to do absolutely nothing. So that's what I did, nothing. New Year's Eve was spent in the same way it always is- games with the family but there was an addition this year. Nick came down for our annual game of Chicken Foot Dominoes and then we left to watch the ball drop at his house. It was weird...it was the first time I wasn't home for the ball to drop and I didn't have to go to bed as soon as it dropped. So that was the end of a great year and the beginning of a new one.
On New Year's Day I learned I wasn't as strong as I thought I was or wanted to be. We did our annual trip to see some of my relatives because, for the most part, they all live in the same area. But what I wasn't prepared for was what I saw on this trip. If anyone has ever watched someone's health slowly get worse, they'll know what I am talking about. I used to think that I would like to know when death is going to happen but now I'm not so sure. My entire view on death has changed and not just in a Biblical sense. I no longer wish to know when my death is going to come nor do I like seeing someone slowly die because of an illness. I would rather be shocked that it happened even though neither is a good option. I have learned that when I die, I want it to be quick. I don't care so much about how much pain I may be in, but for my loved ones, the less they see me deteriorate the better.
I'm hoping you're still with me.
After New Year's, I knew that the time was coming for me to go back to school or as I refer to it most often (sometimes on accident) home. So Nick went back to school and I followed his example a few days later. I was ready to get out and go back to being who I am, not who my parents wanted me to be.
I came to school and did the usual unpacking and cleaning (two days worth of junk) and then I started classes. I don't have classes Mondays so I spent the entire day bored because I had nowhere to go and nothing to do but watch television or movies. I learned that being back is both a blessing and a curse. But here, I can go to the church I want to go to without arguments and pleading and I can be more comfortable. So here I am, in the third week of school, and I am spreading myself perhaps too thin. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have so much. I have classes and work until 5:45 at night and then I come back and usually go to the gym. Today that changed a little because I am now going to Brockport for a life group (and for those who don't know what that is, it's a small Bible study). So because of that, my Tuesdays are now filled, most Fridays will be filled and Monday nights I have another book study with a group of girls that my RD is hosting.
But I'm so excited for this semester! In book study with Celeste, we are reading a book called Boundaries and I cannot wait to get farther into it! Boundaries are something that so many people, including myself, have issues with. So many are not able to say no and are getting stretched so thin they get burned out. So where do we draw the line between Christianity with good deeds helping others to going overboard with it and letting people walk all over us because we don't have the ability to say no. So needless to say, I am very excited about learning to put physical and emotional boundaries in my life because I don't know how to say "no" when I need to.
So here is a warning for those who may read this, I may be posting more about this topic as the weeks go on. But for now, it is time for me to stop writing and go to bed. So goodnight world!
Finals week (for the two days I was here) went by really fast but not without some stumbling blocks. It's funny, it was only two days, but in those two days, I had to confront demons that I never thought I would have to face again. But I dealt with them thanks to a few amazing people in my life.
Once I got home and settled into a routine, time started to fly. Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve and Natalie and I were singing in church and then we were waking up early and going to Courtney and Nate's for Christmas Day. I wasn't working so I had a ton of lazy time to do absolutely nothing. So that's what I did, nothing. New Year's Eve was spent in the same way it always is- games with the family but there was an addition this year. Nick came down for our annual game of Chicken Foot Dominoes and then we left to watch the ball drop at his house. It was weird...it was the first time I wasn't home for the ball to drop and I didn't have to go to bed as soon as it dropped. So that was the end of a great year and the beginning of a new one.
On New Year's Day I learned I wasn't as strong as I thought I was or wanted to be. We did our annual trip to see some of my relatives because, for the most part, they all live in the same area. But what I wasn't prepared for was what I saw on this trip. If anyone has ever watched someone's health slowly get worse, they'll know what I am talking about. I used to think that I would like to know when death is going to happen but now I'm not so sure. My entire view on death has changed and not just in a Biblical sense. I no longer wish to know when my death is going to come nor do I like seeing someone slowly die because of an illness. I would rather be shocked that it happened even though neither is a good option. I have learned that when I die, I want it to be quick. I don't care so much about how much pain I may be in, but for my loved ones, the less they see me deteriorate the better.
I'm hoping you're still with me.
After New Year's, I knew that the time was coming for me to go back to school or as I refer to it most often (sometimes on accident) home. So Nick went back to school and I followed his example a few days later. I was ready to get out and go back to being who I am, not who my parents wanted me to be.
I came to school and did the usual unpacking and cleaning (two days worth of junk) and then I started classes. I don't have classes Mondays so I spent the entire day bored because I had nowhere to go and nothing to do but watch television or movies. I learned that being back is both a blessing and a curse. But here, I can go to the church I want to go to without arguments and pleading and I can be more comfortable. So here I am, in the third week of school, and I am spreading myself perhaps too thin. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have so much. I have classes and work until 5:45 at night and then I come back and usually go to the gym. Today that changed a little because I am now going to Brockport for a life group (and for those who don't know what that is, it's a small Bible study). So because of that, my Tuesdays are now filled, most Fridays will be filled and Monday nights I have another book study with a group of girls that my RD is hosting.
But I'm so excited for this semester! In book study with Celeste, we are reading a book called Boundaries and I cannot wait to get farther into it! Boundaries are something that so many people, including myself, have issues with. So many are not able to say no and are getting stretched so thin they get burned out. So where do we draw the line between Christianity with good deeds helping others to going overboard with it and letting people walk all over us because we don't have the ability to say no. So needless to say, I am very excited about learning to put physical and emotional boundaries in my life because I don't know how to say "no" when I need to.
So here is a warning for those who may read this, I may be posting more about this topic as the weeks go on. But for now, it is time for me to stop writing and go to bed. So goodnight world!
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