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For My Friend, Seth


I shared a little bit about my friend Seth going into the mission field before on my blog. You can read about it here (http://amyandgreyson.blogspot.com/2010/11/day-of-celebrating.html).

I want to spread what he has been called to do with you and how you can help if you are led to do so. Here is a letter that Seth has shared with many and I like I am sharing with you, I hope you will share it as well. I will be writing more about Seth and his testimony later.


Dear Friend,

As the New Year is upon us, people will be making the ever-famous resolutions; changes they plan to make to better their quality of life as well as who they are individually. For me, this upcoming year promises to be exciting and adventurous. At the beginning of last year I was at a place where I felt lost and uncertain about my future. Not really having a plan or knowing where I was headed, I spent the majority of the year praying fervently for the Lord to reveal my purpose in life. He revealed to me that I belonged on the mission field... That's right; I'm going to Australia!
My prayers led me to Youth With A Mission's base in Perth. YWAM is a global missions organization that equips young people with the skills needed to preach the gospel to different cultures and countries around the world. After completing YWAM's Discipleship Training School, I will be eligible to teach with YWAM on a regular basis, helping to build up other missionaries to go out and spread the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. I have included more information about Youth With A Mission in this packet in case you would like to know more about the organization..
My personal prayer and goals are to stay with this group for as long as they will have me. The Lord has shown me many opportunities, like becoming a teacher through this organization and attending the leadership school they offer, following my DTS. There is also a local ministry in Perth called Art Refuge that will have the majority of my attention. This ministry teaches and introduces fine art to the poor and impoverished, as well as to women in crisis centers, and to people in detention centers. As most of you know, the Lord has given me a passion for the arts, so this was no coincidence. I am very excited to see what the Lord has in store for me while I am there!
This is more than an amazing opportunity for me, this is my calling. I know you are all praying for me, and I am so grateful! However, as with most things in life, this will not be free... or cheap. I am doing all I can by working, saving, and cutting corners, but it does not cover the full costs needed. My support goal for this program is roughly $15,000. This would include lodging, food, and supplies for the full six month DTS and would most likely carry me into the leadership school that follows. You can help by giving a one time donation, or you can sign up to sponsor me monthly. Monthly sponsors will receive a regular newsletter, keeping you updated on my journey. In this letter I have included a stamped envelope with an insert to sign, telling me how you would prefer to give.
I thank you so much for taking the time to read this and even more for responding. I pray your new year is blessed and full of the Lord’s favor and joy!

P.S. You may also write your checks out to Springhouse Worship and Arts Center(my home church) if you would like this to be tax deductible; just put my name with YWAM somewhere on the check or with it!

With Love,
Seth
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3

Sorry It’s Been So Long…

Wow, I never would have thought February would have been this busy and this great! It’s been filled with birthdays, events and a PROMOTION!!! I was promoted to Director of Catering last week. It is still so new it partly feels like a dream. It was been an overwhelming two weeks but a great two weeks. I am so honored to be given this amazing opportunity but God deserves all the glory! Greyson and I have been praying for so long about our future and trusting in God to open the doors that were supposed to be opened and close the doors that needed closing. We have stood on the promises of Jeremiah 29:11 and once again GOD HAS PROVIDED! Prayers are welcomed and appreciated during this transition.
And to my friends, I promise not to drop off the face of the earth. Please just give me a couple of more weeks to get acclimated and to hire some help! Hopefully, I will have a new coordinator on my staff soon. Dinner dates and phone dates soon. I promise.

And for a little recap….
We started off the month celebrating our good friend Lara’s “26th“ birthday. Oh wait, it was her 29th but we count what the candles say and her candles said 26, ha-ha.



Then it was Greyson’s 25th birthday. We had a great time celebrating for over a week with cupcakes, cakes and both of our families in town.



DoubleTree by Hilton Murfreesboro hosted Business After Hours for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce that was all coordinated by yours truly. It was a huge success. It was a western theme event and we had a couple of hundred attendees.



And I ended the month with the Boro Bridal Ball at Stones River Country Club.

Diagnosis Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?


As you may already know by now I only watch quality television. You know things like Bravo’s Real Housewives series…. Haha! Well I think the Real Housewives might have led me to a breakthrough with Libby. There is a dog named Giggy on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that has the same problems as Libby (hair loss and itching). That dog was diagnosed with alopecia. I had never really heard of this term until last night when I was watching the show. Thankfully we also learned that if she does have it, it is not life threatening and can be treated with medicine. We will definitely be calling my brother-in-law (the vet) for him to look more into the disease.

It doesn’t seem to stop Giggy from enjoying life. Maybe he can be Libby’s new boyfriend!

Meet Giggy for yourself! http://www.hulu.com/watch/202818/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-the-sweet-life-of-giggy

Beef Enchilada Casserole


This is another one I tweaked and made my own. I experimented a lot with this one. I can see this recipe evolving. I can see a chicken and several other varieties in the near future. Although, this was a huge hit with G. He asked if we could eat the leftovers for supper the next night. Wow, stop the presses. That has NEVER happened.


Ingredients
1 lb lean hamburger beef (I always use 8% or 4% fat)
1 package of Taco Seasoning
1 jar of Salsa (16 oz.)
12 small flour tortillas
1 cup of water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
Brown hamburger meat with taco seasoning and drain. Cut tortillas into one inch squares (doesn’t have to be precise). In a large mixing bowl mix together the beef, salsa, tortillas and water. Spread evenly in a 9X13 pan. Then top casserole with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese bubbles.

Tips
When mixing together ingredients only put a few tortillas in at a time so they do not stick together.

Garnish with sour cream and jalapenos if desired. Serve with Spanish rice and black beans.

"A Woman and Her God"


As February begins, I am trying to hold on to the “New Year” momentum and continue to make 2011 a great year. I didn’t make any resolutions although; I do hope to be swimsuit ready by the summer. I didn’t even write down my goals. But I know the areas in my life where I want to continue to grow and improve. First would be my relationship with my Savior.

I am very thankful that reading God’s word daily was something that was instilled in over ten years ago. But I am come to realize my relationship with Christ has become one out of disciple and routine and not a desire to know Him better. It has been a one way relationship. Here’s a look into my daily walk: at bedtime I would read a chapter or two in the Bible, maybe read over a devotion, say some prayers asking God to meet my needs and the others around me, ask Him to bless me, maybe a thank you for His blessings, ask forgiveness of my sins, and then falling asleep before I ever said amen.

Yes, I have grown in my walk in the last year but really when I reflect and I am real with myself I have to ask, “what kind of growth really is that”. I want to continue to know God in ways I have never known before. That is the greatest think about growth in Christ. It never ends. There is never a point where you know everything there is to know. My recent quest for growth led me to the bookstore to walk up and down the rows looking for a new book for my devotions each night. I left there with a book by Beth Moore and several other authors she collaborated with called, “A Woman and Her God”.

I have only read the first Chapter (I purchased it Sunday) but I have reread each paragraph at least twice. I found so many great truths I wanted to engrain them in my brain. I also wanted to share them with you. I am not sure how the rest of the book will be (on to chapter two tonight). I just hope I can carry these truths and put them into motion in my life.

1. Don’t always think of God in a corporate manner- a sanctuary filled with believers. Spend some time focusing on how God loves you, the individual. This is so important because our relationship with Him is our own. No one else can bring you closer to Christ than yourself. Somehow I had forgotten the simple truth that Jesus loves ME.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. - Luke 12:7
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. - Psalms 139:13

2. Let your time with God come from a desire to know Him better not just out of routine or disciple.

3. NOTHING in your life will give you satisfaction outside of God. NOTHING!!!

4. Turn to God to give you the affirmation you need and to meet your needs. Remember nothing else can satisfy you.

5. If we are full of ourselves (anxiety and concerns) we do not have room for God. So it is important that we give our needs to God and allow Him to meet them and for us not to take them for our own. But remember not to become so focused on your needs and the needs of others around you that you lose sight of the One who meets those needs.
“I want fullness in life. Not just what God can give.”- Beth Moore

6. Christ laid down His life for you so you could be free to know a love that is better than life.