Archive for the ‘Evolution’ Category

• Broken

  Date: 2010.03.16 | Category: Evolution, Uncategorized, random thoughts | Response: 2

  “My all-surrounding Father, how my soul is tempted to search for the meaning of my life in the love of others; to look for security in money and possessions; to strive for acceptance in service and good works. Now I see how these things can be temptations, open doors through which my spirit slips out from within your Self in order to trust in my own strengths. I close these doors right now, and place my soul inside your tender might. Here, alone with you, I draw together all my concerns…all my responsibilities…all that is broken and scattered and needy…My soul is fed and medicined with goodness from Your hand!” St. Augustine

  Something happened to me at cre:ate this year. Something significant…mystical even. I’ve been having trouble finding the words, but they are coming to the surface more and more each day. I am a complicated person, as most of us are. My husband would say I am more complicated than is necessary but God made me this way and I’m trying to find the peace that entangles itself in my craziness. Things that have been laying dormant for years are being stirred up – some really good things and some nasty, ugly, terrifying things. I have to admit that I am scared, I am broken and I am determined that this place I find myself in will not be my end. It is a freakishly beautiful beginning of sorts.

  I am grateful for the wonderful people in my life. The past few weeks have caused me to run into their arms more than once and I love that God has prepared a safe place for me at just the right time. You know who you are…thank you.

• Something’s Got To Give

  Date: 2008.08.19 | Category: Baby Weight, Evolution | Response: 8

  OK – so I think I just have to be honest for a moment so that maybe it will force me to change some things…

  Yesterday was my birthday and I think my sister-in-law, Jennifer, knew that I needed a break. Maybe it was 10am twitter that had the blatant sound of whining that caused her to pick up the phone, but anyway….she called and offered to take the kids for a while so that I could have some alone time. That was the best birthday present EVER! So, she came and whisked them away and I went to try on some clothes. I’m tying to find something to wear for the 20th anniversary service of the church next weekend. Let me just say that the dressing room was a major motivation kick in the butt for me.

  Yes, I know I just had a baby seven weeks ago – but I know that I have so much work to do. It’s not just about losing weight and fitting into better clothes – although that’s a BIG part of it.

  I want to be around a loooooong time for my children and I know that some things need to change. I remember when I moved home about ten years ago…I was 40 lbs overweight and miserable with myself. I was single with no children to take care of and so I had plenty of time to work out and plan my meals. I lost all of that extra weight in about 3 or 4 months so I know what it takes. But, years of comfortable marriage and two pregnancies have not been friendly to my waistline or my overall health – those 40 pounds are back and staring at me with evil intentions. It’s time for a change.

  So here’s the deal… anyone else ready for a change? Anyone want to join me in the quest to be healthier and happier and around for a looooooong time? I promise not to bore all of my blog readers with the daily minutia of my diet and fitness routines, but I will try to let you all know what works for me and what doesn’t and try to encourage those of you who may be on the same path that I’m on.

  Maybe I should start a separate blog just for this journey -what do you all think?

• I Feel Weird

  Date: 2008.06.12 | Category: Church, Evolution, family is everything | Response: 1

  Last night Don, Reagan and I were sitting at the dinner table finishing up when I realized that my team was assembling right at that moment over at the church….without me. They had their first rehearsal sans PA and it really hit me last night that a long season of my life is drawing to a close and I have to admit that I feel weird about that.

  They are being left in very capable hands (you’ll find out who’s hands this coming Sunday morning) and I am excited about handing things over to a new creative leader – it’s going to be an amazing time at The ROCK as we see how God is lining everything up just the way He wants them. These decisions are never easy and are never up to us – He know so much better than we do what we really need and it’s when we learn to trust Him, even in the difficult decisions, that we truly begin to walk in freedom and joy in our lives.

  When I finish typing this post, I will go back to packing up my office and loading up my car. (I LOVE my office, by the way, and will miss it terribly when I have to go pile all of my GAFA stuff up in my tiny house) Monday morning, PB will take over my corner office and I think there will be a massive session of musical offices for a few days as staff members jockey for their spot. Despite all the pleas – the couch is going down to the GAFA office for a while. (sorry, everyone!)

  I love my job and will miss it terribly. But – I love my family enough to take a break for a while and try to be a better mommy to Reagan and Rylee and a better leader of Glory Academy. I can’t wait to see how my team takes off into this new season – it’s going to be incredible! I love you all -

  Abbye

• Big Dreams

  Date: 2008.05.07 | Category: Evolution, creativity | Response: 2

  When Don and I made the decision for me to step down as Creative Arts Director at The ROCK, we knew it was because our children were the most important thing in our lives. Reagan is the best gift I have ever been given – more than I could EVER dream to ask for. Rylee is coming in seven weeks and I can only imagine how much more love my little heart can muster. God’s gifts are always perfect and I can’t wait to finally see this little girl face to face and kiss her about a million times. This is why we made our decision – so I could stay home more and focus my attention on them.

  Since deciding to make this change, I have realized that God’s intentions are far greater than we first thought. They usually are…

  He’s been keeping me up at night – bombarding my heart and my mind with new ideas and big fat dreams. I was worried that my ability to create would be severely limited when I gave up my full time “payed” position and that I would be relegated to the nether-regions of mommy hood for the rest of my days. What I have discovered is that giving myself the room – clearing my mind of TOO much – has given me the permission to start thinking again and believing again in what I could truly accomplish if I decide to make it happen.

• Easter Service

  Date: 2008.03.24 | Category: Church, Evolution | Response: 0

  

  Yesterday was an incredible expression of our churches’ desire to minister the love of Christ to our city. Bryan brought a great word to us about allowing Christ to be the Catalyst in our lives that causes us to reach out with love and compassion to the lost and dying of our city. He grabbed this picture after the service – after many had come forward and written in permanent ink all over the front of our stage – the names of those that they are going to be an expression of Christ to. We can’t get away from them now – they will be in our line of vision EVERY time we stand to worship – EVERY time we come into this building on Sundays. It’s not about us anymore – God forgive us for thinking it ever was.

  This thing we do every weekend is much more important than we have allowed ourselves to commit to. There are tens of thousands of people in this city who do not know Christ – they are lost! Yes – Christ has already paid the price for their freedom, but because they do not know about it they can not LIVE it. But we can’t ignore it anymore – these names are going to stare at us every time we come in here – and every time we start to loose focus about what it’s all about….

• something’s got to give -

  Date: 2008.02.28 | Category: Evolution, random thoughts | Response: 0

  a change is inevitable – my quest to evolve has not yet ended…

  scary things are rolling around in my head – big, hairy things that probably wouldn’t be very popular…

  but we’ll have to wait and see if I have enough courage or if I’ll just tell the big, scary things to shut up again…

• something’s got to give -

  Date: 2008.02.28 | Category: Evolution, random thoughts | Response: 1

  a change is inevitable – my quest to evolve has not yet ended…

  scary things are rolling around in my head – big, hairy things that probably wouldn’t be very popular…

  but we’ll have to wait and see if I have enough courage or if I’ll just tell the big, scary things to shut up again…

• Looking Ahead

  Date: 2008.02.13 | Category: Believe, Evolution, random thoughts | Response: 0

  I just read a post from a dear friend of mine, Christopher. We are the same age – grew up together – and have been in what seems to be parallel mental universes for the past year or so. Anyway…I am so proud of him – he is following his dream and taking the steps to make it a reality in his life. Go read the post and find out what is going on in his world…

  He challenges me to take my dreams seriously – to stop letting them just hang out on the shelf where they’ve been for so many years. What would the world be like if we all truly went for it? Hmmmmm…

• It’s My Choice

  Date: 2008.01.23 | Category: Evolution, random thoughts | Response: 0

  So, what do you do when people have disappointed you? When people have made choices that negatively affect your world and what you are trying to accomplish?

  I remember the people who haven’t – those people who “get it” and seem to do it the right way more than the wrong way. Those are the people that keep me going. I never want the disappointments to outweigh the greatness that is in a lot of the people in my life. And there are some really amazing people…you know who you are. I love you all more than you know…

  Abs

• It’s My Choice

  Date: 2008.01.23 | Category: Evolution, random thoughts | Response: 4

  So, what do you do when people have disappointed you? When people have made choices that negatively affect your world and what you are trying to accomplish?

  I remember the people who haven’t – those people who “get it” and seem to do it the right way more than the wrong way. Those are the people that keep me going. I never want the disappointments to outweigh the greatness that is in a lot of the people in my life. And there are some really amazing people…you know who you are. I love you all more than you know…

  Abs