January 14, 2009
Just Because.
I found this video from my trip to Nashville. Why did Bethany and Brynn make this video? Just because. They made it to make me smile for no good reason. Or maybe to have something that I can watch when I miss them both terribly. Or to laugh with them while I am across the country? Either way, they made it because they love me for who I am. And this is why I love that God provides us with friends and community.
Disclaimer: They were partly laughing and joking throughout this video. Not about loving me, but just in general. :)
January 2, 2009
Happy 2009!
Happy New Year! I am so excited about the endless opportunities that await me in 2009. I look back at 2008 and I am thankful for such a great year! The highlight of 2008? Two words. Summit Church. My life has been changed for the good in so many ways because of my church. Thank you Lord for providing me with such a place when my heart needed it most.
I spent my last day of 2008 and my first day of 2009 with some of the most important people in my life. My friends from Baylor, Brynn and Bethany, were in Nashville celebrating Brynn's sister's wedding. I made a spontaneous decision to drop all of my plans and fly to TN to start the year out just as I wanted it to be! Make it happen was my motto. It cost money, but the benefits of spending two unexpected days with these women made it so completely worthwhile. I miss them terribly and often wonder if we'll ever live in the same city ever again. The possibilities are endless, but the reality seems to steer us in the opposite direction. But, thankfully we know that what we have is special, unique if you will. We have an amazing friendship that hasn't dwindled one bit from graduating college, to one of us getting married, to all of us living in different cities. In fact, I think it's grown deeper and closer. I feel confident going into this year knowing that I have people that care about me as much as they do. They love me for who I am and for that I am grateful.
New Year's Resolution for 2009: To read the entire Bible.
I spent my last day of 2008 and my first day of 2009 with some of the most important people in my life. My friends from Baylor, Brynn and Bethany, were in Nashville celebrating Brynn's sister's wedding. I made a spontaneous decision to drop all of my plans and fly to TN to start the year out just as I wanted it to be! Make it happen was my motto. It cost money, but the benefits of spending two unexpected days with these women made it so completely worthwhile. I miss them terribly and often wonder if we'll ever live in the same city ever again. The possibilities are endless, but the reality seems to steer us in the opposite direction. But, thankfully we know that what we have is special, unique if you will. We have an amazing friendship that hasn't dwindled one bit from graduating college, to one of us getting married, to all of us living in different cities. In fact, I think it's grown deeper and closer. I feel confident going into this year knowing that I have people that care about me as much as they do. They love me for who I am and for that I am grateful.
New Year's Resolution for 2009: To read the entire Bible.
December 14, 2008
The Seat is His. The Seat will always be His.
Tonight at church Isaac, my pastor, was challenging us to walk with Jesus all day. He used the analogy of pulling up a seat beside us and acting as if Jesus was physically sitting there just like anyone else. He challenged us to walk through our day as if we have Jesus, in flesh, standing beside us. How differently would we act? How much more patience would we have? Would we be able to love people more because we knew that Jesus expected more of us than we do of ourselves?
I listened to a three part sermon by Brennan Manning a couple of months ago. He used the same analogy as Isaac used tonight. One particular thing he said really impacted my heart. He was referring to the fact that we were all broken, but Jesus is always present. He was present in the times of Peter's denial and He is present in the times of our brokenness. Manning spoke this quote from Jesus's perspective. "The point my friend is this. I expected more failure from you than you expected from yourself. Do you hear my word? I expected more failure from you than you expected from yourself. At this moment, take your eyes off yourself and fix them on me. And let me be who I am, Savior."
Jesus can do that for me. He can do that sitting right here beside me on this couch. He can do that tomorrow when I am relaxing because I have a day off. He is always with me. I am never alone. And since I am never alone, I should always focus on His presence in my life. When it is 5:00 and I am ready to get off work, He is standing beside me encouraging me that listening to a particular mother's heart is much more important than sitting on the couch watching t.v. He is there beside me when a friend needs a shoulder to cry on and I have nothing left to give. He can give me the strength and can sustain me.
So, I am challenging myself to remember Jesus. I want to remember Him when I am fixing dinner or when I am drying my hair. I want to remember that my life would not be possible if it were not for Him and His love and grace. And so the least I can do is give Him a seat. My chair will remain occupied at all times because Jesus is here and is my priority, my focus.
I listened to a three part sermon by Brennan Manning a couple of months ago. He used the same analogy as Isaac used tonight. One particular thing he said really impacted my heart. He was referring to the fact that we were all broken, but Jesus is always present. He was present in the times of Peter's denial and He is present in the times of our brokenness. Manning spoke this quote from Jesus's perspective. "The point my friend is this. I expected more failure from you than you expected from yourself. Do you hear my word? I expected more failure from you than you expected from yourself. At this moment, take your eyes off yourself and fix them on me. And let me be who I am, Savior."
Jesus can do that for me. He can do that sitting right here beside me on this couch. He can do that tomorrow when I am relaxing because I have a day off. He is always with me. I am never alone. And since I am never alone, I should always focus on His presence in my life. When it is 5:00 and I am ready to get off work, He is standing beside me encouraging me that listening to a particular mother's heart is much more important than sitting on the couch watching t.v. He is there beside me when a friend needs a shoulder to cry on and I have nothing left to give. He can give me the strength and can sustain me.
So, I am challenging myself to remember Jesus. I want to remember Him when I am fixing dinner or when I am drying my hair. I want to remember that my life would not be possible if it were not for Him and His love and grace. And so the least I can do is give Him a seat. My chair will remain occupied at all times because Jesus is here and is my priority, my focus.
December 11, 2008
T-Shirt
I saw one of my little preschool patients wearing this shirt today and it cracked me up. Just imagine a little bald head girl walking around a hospital with this shirt on. It was precious.
December 9, 2008
The loves of my life
Passion: a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything.
I am so passionate about my job. I've said it before and I'll say it again.
I thought about it today while I was holding a 3 year old patient in my lap just minutes after she received chemotherapy. I absolutely adore loving on sick kids. There is such vulnerability that exists in a child when they are sick. I can't really explain it. It's just there. They want nothing more than to be in the midst of a protector or near someone who loves them. My favorite is when they snuggle up to you and hold onto you so tight as if you have the ability to take every ounce of pain away from them for just that moment if nothing else. And to them, that moment is all worth it.
While I was sitting there holding this little girl, she handed me a bag. It was a white paper bag decorated with purple glitter in the most random design. In her crackling voice she said, "Merry Christmas Miss Julie." I asked her if she wanted to help me open the bag. It was my Christmas present. She had decorated me a bag and inside she had placed candy and a card with a picture in it. I was thrilled as you might imagine. I love getting pictures of my patients. These pictures allow me to hold onto memories forever. After I finished opening my present, her mom told us that she had put a paper ornament on the tree with thanks to all of the staff. I looked it over curious to what this particular family would say about me. I glanced through some of the people they had written about and then I got to my name. And this is what it said:
"Julie: She loves my daughter as much as I do." I almost lost it. I just sat there and read it again. And then I began to realize the significance of these words. I realized this particular mother was able to really truly understand the depth of my heart to these kids. She knew that I wasn't in it for the money. She knew I wasn't in it to have a job. She understood that I do what I do because I am passionate about it. I do it because I love it and I love these kids. "She loves my daughter as much as I do." No words could thank me more than those were able to today. And it's the truth.... these kids are the loves of my life.
I am so passionate about my job. I've said it before and I'll say it again.
I thought about it today while I was holding a 3 year old patient in my lap just minutes after she received chemotherapy. I absolutely adore loving on sick kids. There is such vulnerability that exists in a child when they are sick. I can't really explain it. It's just there. They want nothing more than to be in the midst of a protector or near someone who loves them. My favorite is when they snuggle up to you and hold onto you so tight as if you have the ability to take every ounce of pain away from them for just that moment if nothing else. And to them, that moment is all worth it.
While I was sitting there holding this little girl, she handed me a bag. It was a white paper bag decorated with purple glitter in the most random design. In her crackling voice she said, "Merry Christmas Miss Julie." I asked her if she wanted to help me open the bag. It was my Christmas present. She had decorated me a bag and inside she had placed candy and a card with a picture in it. I was thrilled as you might imagine. I love getting pictures of my patients. These pictures allow me to hold onto memories forever. After I finished opening my present, her mom told us that she had put a paper ornament on the tree with thanks to all of the staff. I looked it over curious to what this particular family would say about me. I glanced through some of the people they had written about and then I got to my name. And this is what it said:
"Julie: She loves my daughter as much as I do." I almost lost it. I just sat there and read it again. And then I began to realize the significance of these words. I realized this particular mother was able to really truly understand the depth of my heart to these kids. She knew that I wasn't in it for the money. She knew I wasn't in it to have a job. She understood that I do what I do because I am passionate about it. I do it because I love it and I love these kids. "She loves my daughter as much as I do." No words could thank me more than those were able to today. And it's the truth.... these kids are the loves of my life.
December 8, 2008
Overlooking the good...
My life at work becomes insanely busy between the months of October and December. Why you ask? Because people realize around this time of year that there are sick kids in the hospital. Why is it that our hearts only tend to think of those less fortunate or those who are hurting during a particular time of the year? I hate that and I have become more and more aware of it as the days pass.
Lately I have really noticed myself overlooking the good in situations. I am in charge of all of the donations that come through our children's hospital and during the holidays it can become quite a task for one individual to take on. At times, I'd even go as far as to say it is impossible for one individual to handle.
Today, about an hour ago, I had to ask God for a big fat slap on the face. Harsh, maybe... but it's what I needed. I have gotten so caught up in receiving donation calls, scheduling donations, and going through the stress of the holidays that I have overlooked the good in things. I have missed it. I missed the fact that the entire reason that these people are calling me is to serve, to give, and to love on kids who may never experience this blessing. The hustle and bustle of my own hectic schedule had brought me to a place of selfishness. I was exhausted. I was busy. I was stressed out. Oh, but yet again, I had to own up to the fact that this world is not about me. It is not about how frustrated I am or how busy I am. It's about people helping people. It's about giving and serving. It's about showing love to those who feel unloved. It's about denying myself to the cross every single day because God's picture is much bigger than my own. Most importantly, it's about showing Jesus to people daily. If I have learned anything during this time of year it is this- God gives me opportunities to fulfill His greatest commandment, but will I show up? Will I put others in front of myself because Jesus did so? Will I lay down my life for a friend even in the midst of sheer exhaustion? My intention is yes. But I know myself better than to think that yes will always be my answer. All I know is that I can strive to show love to people daily despite where I am or how I am feeling. God can hold me and provide me the strength.
My hope is that in the days ahead I would acknowledge that every day should be Christmas. Every day I should serve those around me even if it is in the simplest ways. I should think of those less fortunate than me on March 4 just as much as I do on December 25. I should celebrate the birth of my Savior on August 19 just as much as I do on Christmas day. Basically, I want to stop making this time of year about me and more about others. Jesus did so. He made His whole life about others and never about himself. I love this aspect of Him. I want to be a selfless woman who sees the good in people, always.
Lately I have really noticed myself overlooking the good in situations. I am in charge of all of the donations that come through our children's hospital and during the holidays it can become quite a task for one individual to take on. At times, I'd even go as far as to say it is impossible for one individual to handle.
Today, about an hour ago, I had to ask God for a big fat slap on the face. Harsh, maybe... but it's what I needed. I have gotten so caught up in receiving donation calls, scheduling donations, and going through the stress of the holidays that I have overlooked the good in things. I have missed it. I missed the fact that the entire reason that these people are calling me is to serve, to give, and to love on kids who may never experience this blessing. The hustle and bustle of my own hectic schedule had brought me to a place of selfishness. I was exhausted. I was busy. I was stressed out. Oh, but yet again, I had to own up to the fact that this world is not about me. It is not about how frustrated I am or how busy I am. It's about people helping people. It's about giving and serving. It's about showing love to those who feel unloved. It's about denying myself to the cross every single day because God's picture is much bigger than my own. Most importantly, it's about showing Jesus to people daily. If I have learned anything during this time of year it is this- God gives me opportunities to fulfill His greatest commandment, but will I show up? Will I put others in front of myself because Jesus did so? Will I lay down my life for a friend even in the midst of sheer exhaustion? My intention is yes. But I know myself better than to think that yes will always be my answer. All I know is that I can strive to show love to people daily despite where I am or how I am feeling. God can hold me and provide me the strength.
My hope is that in the days ahead I would acknowledge that every day should be Christmas. Every day I should serve those around me even if it is in the simplest ways. I should think of those less fortunate than me on March 4 just as much as I do on December 25. I should celebrate the birth of my Savior on August 19 just as much as I do on Christmas day. Basically, I want to stop making this time of year about me and more about others. Jesus did so. He made His whole life about others and never about himself. I love this aspect of Him. I want to be a selfless woman who sees the good in people, always.
December 4, 2008
Date Nights
I love my Thursday night date nights. Every Thursday night my friend Lauren and I set aside a couple of hours to spend quality time with each other. It is so refreshing and so needed each week. We usually catch up over coffee and occasionally dinner. God is teaching us both different things, but it is so neat to watch the transformations occur. I am encouraged by her love for Christ and her love for friends.
I am at a place in my life that is so unique and special. I have been given this opportunity today, right now to invest into women and praise Jesus for that. These woman are people who can challenge me, speak truth into my life, and can love me unconditionally just as I am. Some are older and some are younger, but that's the beauty of it. Most importantly, I am able to see how God is using them right now in my life. I love that! I am able to pray with them and really pursue intentional friendships with these women to glorify my Savior.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
I am at a place in my life that is so unique and special. I have been given this opportunity today, right now to invest into women and praise Jesus for that. These woman are people who can challenge me, speak truth into my life, and can love me unconditionally just as I am. Some are older and some are younger, but that's the beauty of it. Most importantly, I am able to see how God is using them right now in my life. I love that! I am able to pray with them and really pursue intentional friendships with these women to glorify my Savior.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
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