I've seen some pretty sweet videos lately, so I've decided to post them for you so you can enjoy them with me. Here we goooooo.
1. Come On - Rend Collective Experiment: Ok, I love this group of Irish lads and lassies. They are super-cute and I want to be their friend like yesterday.
2. I'd Rather Dance With You - Kings of Convenience: Awkward dancing + Ballerinas = Awesome
3. Her - Steve Moakler: Messy hair, check. Acoustic guitar, check. Gigantic chiclet teeth, check. I'm in love.
4. I Will Wait For You - Janette...IKZ: All I can say is preach it, sister.
5. Ysketball Instructional Video: Thanks to Erika for introducing me to this gem. This video is fun. You know what's not fun? HIV.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Beauty of Uncertainty and Signing Contracts
“Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life – gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.” - Oswald Chambers
This just in friends, [ok, not really JUST in, because this actually happened on Monday, but whatever!] I signed my contract and will be coming back to MCA next year as a TEACHER. For those of you who don't know, I have never taught, ever. I'm a little scared but I'm embracing the uncertainty! By choosing to do something so different, I will get to see God work and make me into the teacher He would have me be. And that, my friends, is very exciting.
Throughout this year God has given me such a desire to get into the lives of our students, and while I get opportunities to do so while working in the office, I want as many as I can possibly get. I can't wait to get into the classroom and be able to teach them about English and literature, but then also have so many opportunities to pull students aside and ask them about their walk with God and share Truth with them.
I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I know that God is leading me and showing me amazing things that I would not have seen had my life been lived full of certainty about what tomorrow holds.
This just in friends, [ok, not really JUST in, because this actually happened on Monday, but whatever!] I signed my contract and will be coming back to MCA next year as a TEACHER. For those of you who don't know, I have never taught, ever. I'm a little scared but I'm embracing the uncertainty! By choosing to do something so different, I will get to see God work and make me into the teacher He would have me be. And that, my friends, is very exciting.
Throughout this year God has given me such a desire to get into the lives of our students, and while I get opportunities to do so while working in the office, I want as many as I can possibly get. I can't wait to get into the classroom and be able to teach them about English and literature, but then also have so many opportunities to pull students aside and ask them about their walk with God and share Truth with them.
I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I know that God is leading me and showing me amazing things that I would not have seen had my life been lived full of certainty about what tomorrow holds.
Tell me, where is God taking you?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Spiritual Sensitivity Training
God has been putting me through a spiritual sensitivity training of sorts lately. What I mean by this, is that He's been prodding my heart to do things, sometimes things that don't make sense at the time or don't seem to have an impact, solely [in my eyes, at least. His ways are higher than my ways] because He wants me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This is something that we talk about here from time to time. If we stop listening to the Holy Spirit, we will become less and less sensitive until we can't hear Him. So even when I can't figure out why God would have me check on the girl at Whataburger who just had a flat tire when she's already on the phone with someone and isn't going to stop and have a deep, spiritual talk with me, or even when I'm joking around with the students at school but I know I need to ask them how they are doing spiritually, even if it doesn't make sense to me, God has called me to do that act of obedience and I must obey.
In other news, we had field day on Friday. Here's a glimpse.
And there you have it. I'm not going to explain; I'm going to let you come up with your own explanation.
In other news, we had field day on Friday. Here's a glimpse.
And there you have it. I'm not going to explain; I'm going to let you come up with your own explanation.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Note Writing and some other stuff
Last time I wrote about note writing. I sent three students notes and got one back from one of the girls today. Her note prompted [you like that? PROMPTED] my response so I wrote back and took the note to her desk. When I got there I saw that she had pinned the last note on the board in front of her desk. Aww.
Also, I didn't write a running post on Monday, but I RAN 5 MILES WITHOUT STOPPING last Saturday! That completes #1 of my 101 in 1001!!! Awesome!
We have a birthday party tonight for one of our Juniors. Always fun.
Erika and I are selling singing Valentines to the students. They are going to be so stupid but so fun.
Lots of emotional stuff happening at MCA but God is most definitely working!
I will try to return to our regular programming soon!
Also, I didn't write a running post on Monday, but I RAN 5 MILES WITHOUT STOPPING last Saturday! That completes #1 of my 101 in 1001!!! Awesome!
We have a birthday party tonight for one of our Juniors. Always fun.
Erika and I are selling singing Valentines to the students. They are going to be so stupid but so fun.
Lots of emotional stuff happening at MCA but God is most definitely working!
I will try to return to our regular programming soon!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Note Writing
I talked to Naomi (one of the roomies) last night and asked her how she gets opportunities to speak with the kids one-on-one. I think it is especially hard for those of us in the development office to get those opportunities because we see the students out in the hall where everyone is or in our office while other people are working, and no one wants to talk about things they're struggling with while other people are working in hearing distance.
The first thing she told me was, of course, pray. I do this sometimes but I definitely don't pray about getting opportunities to speak with the students one-on-one enough. Even though, I know that when I have prayed for an opportunity, one has come up.
The second thing she said was to write them notes. This is the second time this week I have heard about one of our teachers writing the students a note. I know that I, for one, am much better at articulating my thoughts into a note. I also think it's easier to say hard things on paper than in person, for me or for the student. She went on to say that notes are more permanent. They can be re-read where a conversation can only be remembered.
I'm excited to start doing this. I pray that the words I put on paper will be God-glorifying, gospel-centered words which God will use to impact hearts.
The first thing she told me was, of course, pray. I do this sometimes but I definitely don't pray about getting opportunities to speak with the students one-on-one enough. Even though, I know that when I have prayed for an opportunity, one has come up.
The second thing she said was to write them notes. This is the second time this week I have heard about one of our teachers writing the students a note. I know that I, for one, am much better at articulating my thoughts into a note. I also think it's easier to say hard things on paper than in person, for me or for the student. She went on to say that notes are more permanent. They can be re-read where a conversation can only be remembered.
I'm excited to start doing this. I pray that the words I put on paper will be God-glorifying, gospel-centered words which God will use to impact hearts.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Half-Marathon Training
Well, ladies and gents, it's Monday, and that means it's time for another installment of Half-Marathon Training with Tori.
It went well. I've decided that I'm going to try to be very disciplined with the schedule and do everything it tells me [otherwise I would probably cheat and cheating is for lame-Os. Yes, I said it. Lame-Os]. I did have to change my Tuesday/Thursday runs to Monday/Wednesday due to basketball games and such, but I think that's pretty legit.
On Monday, I did 2 miles at a fairly slow, but respectable and easy-on-the-old-lungs pace. Wednesday, I did 2.5 miles at around the same pace. Saturday, I did a very slow 3 miles. Yesterday, I felt very good. I did 2 miles at a pace about 30sec/mi faster than on Monday.
Today, ladies and gents, I beat my 2 mile time from last Monday by 2:07! I'm pretty pumped about that.
And I went to the Nike outlet today but it had closed for renovations. Lame. Then I tried on 3847982 pairs of shoes at Famous Footwear but I just wasn't in the mindset to buy. Oh well.
And just fyi, for those of you who are wondering and/or who want to know if you could run even though you're terrible at it, you can! I'm loving getting into shape, getting outside, having some alone time, and having tons of time with God!!!!
This past week was my first week using my official training schedule.
On Monday, I did 2 miles at a fairly slow, but respectable and easy-on-the-old-lungs pace. Wednesday, I did 2.5 miles at around the same pace. Saturday, I did a very slow 3 miles. Yesterday, I felt very good. I did 2 miles at a pace about 30sec/mi faster than on Monday.
Today, ladies and gents, I beat my 2 mile time from last Monday by 2:07! I'm pretty pumped about that.
And I went to the Nike outlet today but it had closed for renovations. Lame. Then I tried on 3847982 pairs of shoes at Famous Footwear but I just wasn't in the mindset to buy. Oh well.
And just fyi, for those of you who are wondering and/or who want to know if you could run even though you're terrible at it, you can! I'm loving getting into shape, getting outside, having some alone time, and having tons of time with God!!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dear Heritage Baptist Church
Last night I got a text telling me I had to do nursery during the main service instead of Community Group (henceforth referred to as "CG"). I was upset because I wanted to hear the preaching, but I went with it. I'm so glad Chago changed the schedule now because Brent touched on some things in CG that I had noticed but couldn't yet give words.I realized that I'm nervous to go back home for a few reasons, most of them centering on the church.
Brent talked about the local church and its importance in the lives of Christians. One of the things that is most important in a body of believers is accountability. I don't think Heritage has many people who are passionate about discipling. Don't get me wrong; I'm to blame as much as the next person.
I do, however, think my parents, Tanner, and Daniel have done an excellent job with shepherding our CG on a one-on-one or very small group basis. But at the same time, my parents are still my parents. I know this about myself, that when they show me sin in my life, I will be less likely, or at least much slower, to heed their words than if someone outside of my family called me out. But how many people at Heritage know me well enough that they would know when I was in sin? A very few. But THAT is what the church needs to be. We need to be in each other's lives "sharpening each other's iron" in love.
Even in our CG at Heritage, we tend to come together, answer stock questions, joke around, and leave. We build up our knowledge of God, maybe [knowledge puffs up], but we don't know each other's hearts. We are not real with each other about our struggles. We don't bear one another's burdens unless it's convenient [and then it's not a burden!]. We don't reach out to the people around us, especially those younger than us who would hang on our every word and watch our every action that we could perform to the glory of God! We have such a simple opportunity, as simple as crossing the parking lot, yet we don't take advantage of that.
We're all going along so comfortably, but we're not stretching ourselves. We're not stretching each other. We will never look like Christ if we are self-serving and comfortable.
We must start the change. We can't sit around waiting for someone else [church leaders, authors, CG leaders] to make a plan. We have to be the revolution.
I know our CG has been talking about going on a mission trip this summer, and that is still something I would love to do, but we can't just sit around making plans for summer. We must act now. Every breath should be filled with glory to God, not just our summers.
So I challenge you, church, find someone who can shepherd you and then begin shepherding someone yourself. You don't have to know the words to say right now; God will give them to you when you ask Him. Stop waiting for something to happen and make it happen yourself. If we are surrendered to Him, we cannot fail.
Brent talked about the local church and its importance in the lives of Christians. One of the things that is most important in a body of believers is accountability. I don't think Heritage has many people who are passionate about discipling. Don't get me wrong; I'm to blame as much as the next person.
I do, however, think my parents, Tanner, and Daniel have done an excellent job with shepherding our CG on a one-on-one or very small group basis. But at the same time, my parents are still my parents. I know this about myself, that when they show me sin in my life, I will be less likely, or at least much slower, to heed their words than if someone outside of my family called me out. But how many people at Heritage know me well enough that they would know when I was in sin? A very few. But THAT is what the church needs to be. We need to be in each other's lives "sharpening each other's iron" in love.
Even in our CG at Heritage, we tend to come together, answer stock questions, joke around, and leave. We build up our knowledge of God, maybe [knowledge puffs up], but we don't know each other's hearts. We are not real with each other about our struggles. We don't bear one another's burdens unless it's convenient [and then it's not a burden!]. We don't reach out to the people around us, especially those younger than us who would hang on our every word and watch our every action that we could perform to the glory of God! We have such a simple opportunity, as simple as crossing the parking lot, yet we don't take advantage of that.
We're all going along so comfortably, but we're not stretching ourselves. We're not stretching each other. We will never look like Christ if we are self-serving and comfortable.
We must start the change. We can't sit around waiting for someone else [church leaders, authors, CG leaders] to make a plan. We have to be the revolution.
I know our CG has been talking about going on a mission trip this summer, and that is still something I would love to do, but we can't just sit around making plans for summer. We must act now. Every breath should be filled with glory to God, not just our summers.
So I challenge you, church, find someone who can shepherd you and then begin shepherding someone yourself. You don't have to know the words to say right now; God will give them to you when you ask Him. Stop waiting for something to happen and make it happen yourself. If we are surrendered to Him, we cannot fail.
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