Karen's Wedding

Last weekend brought a much-needed getaway to Colorado. Several months ago, when my friend Karen told me she was getting married in June in Colorado, I said, "I'll be there!" I love to travel, and this seemed like a great excuse to do so, not to mention I couldn't imagine missing Karen's wedding. So, I asked Rachel if she wanted to come along, and she, who is also always up for a trip, said, "Sure!" We were only able to go for the weekend, but it was so nice. I had only been to Colorado during the winter, and I have to say, I LOVE it in the summer! I already told my parents and sisters we have to go back for vacation soon!

We arrived in Denver late Friday night after my flight was delayed (sorry Rachel that you had to wait on me), had dinner and crashed at the hotel. When we got up Saturday morning we walked around Boulder, which is a nice town with a great little square with shopping and dining! We had lunch (where we confirmed the rule that you should never order Mexican food in a state besides Texas!), then headed up to the mountains to enjoy the great outdoors! I couldn't tell you how many times we said, "Look at that!" or "Wow!" or "That's amazing!" As I looked at the mountains, I was completely amazed at God's handiwork! And to think, the God that created all of that beauty desires an intimate relationship with me! Now, that's something to make me say, "Wow!"

The wedding was on Sunday, which also happened to be the groom's birthday! We packed up our things Sunday morning and made the 1 1/2 hour drive to Estes Park in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. The wedding was at the Historic Stanley Hotel and it was beautiful! I've only been to a handful of weddings that when you leave, you are thinking more about God than the the bride and groom. This was definitely one of those! I met Karen almost 15 years ago when she was my youth minister. She was a young college student and I was in high school. God definitely used Karen as a major part of my spiritual growth during my teenage years, and I now consider her a very dear friend. As I watched Karen walk down the aisle to her waiting groom, I was overwhelmed by God's faithfulness. His plans for her were greater than she could have ever imagined! He is so good! I'm so glad I was able to be there to celebrate this special day.

We had to rush away from the wedding because we had late evening flights back to Houston for me and Dallas for Rachel. Little did we know, we could have stayed at the wedding reception as long as we wanted because neither of us left the Denver airport till after 9:00 p.m. I arrived home at about 2:00 a.m. and got a few hours of sleep before heading to Galveston for our Summer Mission Trip. More details coming soon to the blog about that trip. . .

Where to start?. . .crazy trip to the airport :)

The last couple of weeks have been insanely busy! I always say that when summer comes around and all the students at church and my friends who are teachers are excited about the much needed down-time, my schedule really kicks into high gear. There are more activities, and I still have to somehow figure out how to get my hours in at work!

So, I would say the official summer "kick-off" was a late night(actually early morning) trip to the airport to see Lin off to China. Our church was so blessed to have several foreign exchange students from all over the world be apart of our church family this last school year. Lin stayed with my good friends, the Lamberts. Some of the teenagers decided we should surprise Lin at the airport the morning she left to go back to China. This required us getting up and heading that way at 2:30 a.m.!!!

So, we had our end of the year LIFEGroup parties and then about 10:00 p.m., ten students came over to our house to crash until we left. We watched TV, played games, acted silly and some of us tried to sleep. I have to mention that some people got a little rambunctious and my cell phone somehow landed in a cup of watered-down tea. It is working right now, but not quite as well as it used to, so if you can't get ahold of me, that is why! There are many theories as to who is to blame for this incident, but we'll just chalk it up to bad luck!

I had to borrow my sister's Suburban, and Shahla drove my car, and we loaded up with balloons and signs. I hadn't been to Bush Airport in a while, but there is definitely some serious construction going on, not to mention there are not many people working at 3:00 a.m.! We couldn't park at the international departure terminal because that garage wasn't open. So, we walked and rode the train through the airport for over an hour trying to locate the Lamberts and Lin. Keep in mind the lack of airport personnel, which meant we were on our own to figure out where Lin was. Also keep in mind that when hanging out with teenagers, there are at least as many opinions as there are people! Let's just say I was beyond frustrated at some points and thought, "There is probably some security people in a room watching us traipse through the airport and laughing their heads off!" At one point I look down this long corridor that has a definite down-slope, and a teenager who will remain nameless was log-rolling down it! That prompted me to say, "The next person who does something stupid will be sitting in the car until we are finished!", at which point the aforementioned teenager said with definite pride, "Did you just see me roll down that ramp?" I thought Shahla was going to fall down laughing when she told him, "That's why she just made the comment about doing something stupid!" At another point, as many opinions were flying around, I stopped everyone and asked, "How many of you have even stepped foot in this airport?" When only about 6 of them raised their hands, I said, "Good! That eliminates 4 opinions!" We had many laughs, and even more tears as we people-watched and bid farewell to our friend. It was certainly one last opportunity for us to show Christ's love to Lin!

Continue to pray for Lin as she gets settled in back at home in China. Over the last 10 months, we were able to share the Gospel with her, and see a definite struggle going on in her heart. She knows the decision she's faced with, but at this point, has not put her trust in Jesus. Satan is using lies to keep her from believing that there are Christians in China. Pray that strongholds will be broken and she will understand her desperate need for a Redeemer!



>

Acknowledging God's Faithfulness

I have really been enjoying the last week or so of my "Believing God" homework, because it has involved writing down my spiritual journey. One of the things that I've seen is as I can look back on events in my life, I can see how God was at work even when I didn't realize it at the time. At first when I saw that we were going to write down our journeys, I didn't think much about it, but it has really had a profound impact on me, and I've only gotten to age 18! After that is when I really started to let God have control of my life. I am amazed at the provision and protection that He provided during those years when I wasn't allowing Him to have complete control. I would encourage each of you to write down your story. Take it in bite-size portions (I'm doing 1/5 of my life at a time), and make note of your family situation, major events, spiritual events, and any "God-stops" (instances & seasons where you know God was at work). After I get through this homework, I think I'll actually compile my thoughts in a journal to keep. Part of truly believing God is knowing that He has been at work all along and that His ways are so much higher than mine. His track record speaks for itself. . .HE CAN BE TRUSTED!!

Someone who I have grown to care deeply about who doesn't have a relationship with Christ recently posed the question, "How can you pray to a God that lets bad things into your life?" While I can completely understand this concern from someone who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ, my answer has to be "How can I not?" When this broken world we live in leaves me at rock bottom, I have no where to turn but to the One Who I know has always been faithful. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

Have a great week trusting the One Who can always be trusted!

"When the Saints"

I blogged a while back about my new favorite song, "When the Saints," by Sara Groves. I've been listening to it a lot because I'm going to sing it at church in a couple of weeks. As I was listening to it on the way to work tonight, I was overcome with emotion as the song really drove home some of the things God has been teaching me in the last few weeks. The first verse says: "Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know; It's more than I can handle; But Your Word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones; and I cannot let it go." My mind has been focused on the utter poverty and injustice that occurs in our world today. I've been thinking about Africa and our upcoming trip; and India as I followed the Compassion bloggers; and the sickening reality of human trafficking that even occurs in America. You can't be aware of those things and not be compelled to do something about it, but at the same time, it can be so overwhelming, you don't know where to start. What is so amazing, and the point Sara Groves makes in this song, is that God has always used broken down, ordinary people who don't have it all together and who are completely overwhelmed by their circumstances to completely change the world around them. The second verse of the song says, "Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind; it all can overwhelm me; but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life their courage compels me." As we look at others who have served God in their lives, we are encouraged. This Scripture verse has really stood out to me this week: "He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is able to do things in and through us that we never imagined were possible. The song goes on to list heroes of the faith from biblical times to the present. I'm working on a video that goes with the song, and in talking with several people about it, we thought it would be good to put pictures of people that have gone on to heaven who have touched our lives and our spiritual journeys; people who simply allowed God to use them. So many people have come to mind, and I'd like to share a few of them. . .

Billy Snell Bennett: Mr. Bennett and his wife Aleta (who I still get to see twice a week at church), served faithfully in the 2 year old Sunday School class for 30+ years. Some of my very first memories of church were in the nursery in their class. I also cherish memories of working alongside them on numerous mission trips throughout the years.

Doug Adams (my Paw Paw): He was my "adopted" grandfather and served the Lord faithfully throughout the years. He loved unconditionally, and I loved that about Him.

Hannah Harpster: Hannah was a little girl who entered our lives when she had cancer and as a church, we prayed fervently for God's healing. He decided to go ahead with her ultimate healing and took her home to heaven. She always said she wanted to be a missionary when she grew up, and she was! She spent her time in and out of the hospital and told people about Jesus everywhere she went!

Mr. & Mrs. Salters: The thing I remember most about both of them was their hearts for missions. Glen actually died of a heart attack suffered while on a mission trip. Their lives truly exemplified utter faith and dependence on the Lord.

This list could go on and on. But, my point is, these people, along with Abraham, Moses, David, the disciples, Paul, and many others were ordinary people who simply submitted their lives to Christ and His will for them. God wants to use each of us to move mountains. We must first set aside all our "rights" and cling to the One who can do amazing things in and through us. We need to get over our insecurities and thinking we're not good enough, because the fact of the matter is, we're not good enough, but He is!!! And we can boast in the fact that His power is made perfect in our weakness!

Check this out!

Check out Beth Moore's daughter, Meilssa's blog about her Compassion International Mission trip to Calcutta, India. I was especially moved by her commentary on the scripture from Isaiah.

And, this blog brought me to tears! It's from Angie Smith, who is also on the trip with Melissa. Her story of unbelievable sorrow has captured me as I've followed her blog the past year.

It's so inspiring to see regular, vulnerable people allowing God to use them!

Catching up on "Believing God"

I have been so behind on my homework for the "Believing God" study, so I brought my book to work Thursday night and last night to try to catch up if I had some free time. Thursday proved to be a busy night in the unit, but tonight has been fairly calm. So, I just finished the last week of homework and I'm officially caught up. I love how God's timing is perfect! Everything I read tonight was exactly what I needed to hear, and I've been beating myself up over slacking off on the homework. Anyways. . .Just wanted to share a couple of things that stuck out to me. All of this week's homework continued to look at the "Hall of Faith" listed in Hebrews. We can learn so much from these ordinary, flawed individuals who God used simply because they believed Him and were obedient!

Beth pointed out that some of the people mentioned were called to action in their obedience, while some were called to do nothing at all and let God's plan unfold. Oh, how messy things can get when we get ahead of God and start trying to take matters into our own hands (like Rebekah did in regard to Isaac's blessing on his sons). God might have already revealed to us what His plan is, but we sometimes run ahead of Him and try to "help Him out." In relating this story, Beth points out that at this point in our study we have seen God calling people to action, but in some cases "we see a different and oftentimes harder dimension of faith: when faith requires us to do nothing at all, while our human nature screams to interfere. In these cases we believe; therefore, we do not act. Wisdom is knowing the difference between the two." This point couldn't have been more timely for me. This is my journal entry: "Over the last several months, God has asked me to do alot of waiting instead of acting. It is so hard for me to sit on my hands and not take matters into my own hands. He has continued to prove Himself faithful, and just when I think He's done using a situation to teach me, He says, 'Think again!' While it can be scary, it's actually kind of fun and adventurous to completely trust His plan!"

In one of the day's studies, we looked at the faith of Jacob. Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." The interesting thing was that, like his father, he blessed the younger grandson with the blessing of the firstborn. This time, however, deceit wasn't involved. He openly did exactly what he knew God had told him to do. This caused his son to be displeased. This is Beth's commentary: "Misunderstandings can initially result as we exercise enough faith to do what we're convinced is God's will. Sometimes, those misunderstandings can involve people whose opinions are very important to us. If we are convinced that God has willed the action, let's go the extra faith mile and believe that God will handle the consequences. . . Though his son was displeased and his grandsons were sure to experience friction, Jacob knew his God was faithful. Time would tell." Most of the time, truly believing God and being obedient requires us to step into uncomfortable situations. Remember that God knows exactly what He's doing, and if we are living in the Spirit and doing as He has called, we can leave the results up to Him! He's always faithful and can always be trusted!!!

The last person we looked at in the homework for this week was Rahab, the prostitute. I've always loved that God included her in "Hall of Faith." She not only was commended for her faith in hiding the spies, she was included in the lineage of Christ. While I knew all of this, this was the first time I'd really looked at the fact that Scripture indicates that Rahab lived among the Israelites after the fall of Jericho. She even married an Israelite and gave birth to Boaz, the man who became Ruth's kinsman redeemer. What a beautiful story. Beth's commentary is: "She didn't just have the faith to be delivered. She had the faith to be redeemed. Then accepted. Then made a bride. Then she exercised the faith to rear one of the finest men captured in the annals of Bible history. Generations later, drops of her spiritual blood could be found in the veins of the holy Son of God. Oh, the infinite implications of believing God!" God is in the business of using broken-down, messed-up people who are in the midst of sin. We just have to believe He is Who He says He is and allow Him to use us and transform us!

Our family might need counseling :)! Ha ha ha!

Don't mean to alarm anyone by that title, but my mom literally sat and taught Isabella "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" line by line until she could sing it on her own! Of course all of the Simmons clan(and our extended, Astros-loving family) is absolutely excited and thinks it's precious, but it just totally proves the point that we're a bit obsessed with baseball! I'm taking Isabella to the game tonight, so hopefully she'll do a great rendition of the song during the 7th inning stretch for her Aunt Kristi. This is a link to my sister's blog with a video of her singing it (minus a line or two) yesterday!