That was a great evening with the Martins and Hightowers, thanks to all! We appreciated the prayers, encouragement and great food! You are all dear to our hearts and we will miss you lots.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
FRIENDS
My new intern friends: Allysa, Hillary and I hanging out at Applebees
The new interns hanging out at the Hopeline. There are 9 newbies and they're great!
Past interns, getting together to celebrate our friend Brenda, it was a suprise party.
Ladies from church, taken on a hike we took at Radnor Lake.Judah and Charis
This is Charis, she's two. I hang out with her and Judah (3) two days a week for ten hours. We have a lot of fun together.
Their nana just got them new toys so they're excited about them. ;)
A day at the park, with our friend Amanda and her little girl, Selah.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Purpose for Life/Living
What is Your Purpose for life?
In the last month, my grandpa passed away, my uncle passed away and my grandma was admitted to the ICU for internal bleeding (and other complications) so with reason, I am thinking about life, purpose and my role in the earth. (family members, please don't take offense to what I'm about to say) After my Uncle Ralph died (only 55 yrs old), his best friend e-mailed a picture to all the friends and family and described the photo to be a good portrait of his spirit. Here's what the picture was: Uncle Ralph sitting in a lawn chair with a cigar to his mouth, a glass of Scotch in the other hand and a big smile on his face. Ok, right off the bat it IS a nice picture. It was probably ten or so years ago, he was looking healthy and happy....but I couldn't help but feel sad when I looked at him. I love my Uncle, he has been a blessing (and Judy too!) and of course my heart is for my family to be blessed, healthy and walking with God. Well, I was sad because I wondered how people would remember him if that picture is a good portrayal of his spirit. Somewhere around 8 years ago he had a liver failure due to alcoholism and he almost died. All the years after that have been a gift from God and his internal organs gave way and took his life. Only 55 years old. The choices we make, each day, affect so much-inside and those around us. I don't know where Ralph's heart was in relation to Jesus but I pray that God will draw others to Himself through these circumstances. I wonder what Ralph's last words were........What would your last words be, if you had the opportunity before leaving earth?If you were to attend your funeral (guess it wouldn't be a funeral then would it?), what would people say about you? What would you be remembered as? Remembered for? What would people say about you? What are the things they would say were most important to you? By answering those questions, I think you could do a pretty good analysis on your life.What is Your Purpose in this Life? I would love to hear your answers if you're willing to share. What do you live For? Self? Others? God? I could ask a hundred questions but my point in all of this is to say that having pondered these questions, I am so thankful to know God personally, to be secure in this life (and after) and to know that I'm accepted by Him. My life is secure, even though the economy isn't and so many other things. Life is important, lets not waste it by worrying about things we can't control.......And lastly, all this makes me wonder, what would people remember about ME??
In the last month, my grandpa passed away, my uncle passed away and my grandma was admitted to the ICU for internal bleeding (and other complications) so with reason, I am thinking about life, purpose and my role in the earth. (family members, please don't take offense to what I'm about to say) After my Uncle Ralph died (only 55 yrs old), his best friend e-mailed a picture to all the friends and family and described the photo to be a good portrait of his spirit. Here's what the picture was: Uncle Ralph sitting in a lawn chair with a cigar to his mouth, a glass of Scotch in the other hand and a big smile on his face. Ok, right off the bat it IS a nice picture. It was probably ten or so years ago, he was looking healthy and happy....but I couldn't help but feel sad when I looked at him. I love my Uncle, he has been a blessing (and Judy too!) and of course my heart is for my family to be blessed, healthy and walking with God. Well, I was sad because I wondered how people would remember him if that picture is a good portrayal of his spirit. Somewhere around 8 years ago he had a liver failure due to alcoholism and he almost died. All the years after that have been a gift from God and his internal organs gave way and took his life. Only 55 years old. The choices we make, each day, affect so much-inside and those around us. I don't know where Ralph's heart was in relation to Jesus but I pray that God will draw others to Himself through these circumstances. I wonder what Ralph's last words were........What would your last words be, if you had the opportunity before leaving earth?If you were to attend your funeral (guess it wouldn't be a funeral then would it?), what would people say about you? What would you be remembered as? Remembered for? What would people say about you? What are the things they would say were most important to you? By answering those questions, I think you could do a pretty good analysis on your life.What is Your Purpose in this Life? I would love to hear your answers if you're willing to share. What do you live For? Self? Others? God? I could ask a hundred questions but my point in all of this is to say that having pondered these questions, I am so thankful to know God personally, to be secure in this life (and after) and to know that I'm accepted by Him. My life is secure, even though the economy isn't and so many other things. Life is important, lets not waste it by worrying about things we can't control.......And lastly, all this makes me wonder, what would people remember about ME??
A day at Radnor Lake with the Lord
I spent Monday afternoon refreshing my heart at Randnor Lake. It's located in Brentwood, it's protected, natural habitat and the beauty of the area in the fall is incredible!
I thought this tree looked beautiful and ready for someone to climb it...but not me cause I don't like heights :)
Idolatry...in my life
Idolatry...in my own life
It's a sobering moment to hear God tell you in a gentle and loving way that, "You have an idol." I know what an idol is but just for the sake of clarity, I'll elaborate: Anything you choose Over God.Whatever you look to for security, comfort, assurance, validation, or to make you feel better. Our flesh will make an idol out of anything. It could be shopping, food, fly fishing, video games, romance novels, another person,etc. "Over, above or apart from God is an idol," according to a teaching I listened to last night by John Eldrege. Well, my confession is that over the last week to two weeks, food has been an idol in my life. The worst part about it is that I knew it and still allowed it to take precidence over my relationship with God. I'm not a binge eater, not like that, but I found comfort from eating. Instead of my morning alone time with God, I'd lolly gag around the house, have breakfast and start my day, usually out the door. And even last night as I layed in bed, John's teaching was playing and I knew in my heart that I wasn't at peace with God, I still wasn't ready to end my sinful behavior. I deliberately was choosing what I knew was wrong. The teaching was timely and convicting, and I'm thankful for that. I began to ask the Holy Spirit to soften my heart to receive the wisdom being shared by John about idolatry. It worked. I humbled my heart and took everything in, applying it to my life as much as possible and repenting genuinely in my heart to God. I knew I was freed in that moment. You don't realize how easily we can lose the freedom that Jesus has given us. For example, if you tell a lie, you then become a slave to it because you have to remember what you told the person and who you told it to. You gotta watch yourself from that point on. You became a slave again to bondage that Jesus died to free us from. I had that head knowledge but I still chose to pick food as my comfort instead of God. I have no logical or good excuse or reason for that but I'm just so thankful for God and His unconditional love for me. It was His kindness that led me to repentance. Food is a source of life, true, but not in the same way that God gives life, you know? There is a balance and when Jesus is the center of my life, then things fall into proper order and i'm in that place right now. Reprioritizing. I used to fast once a week and found it to be very beneficial because it kept my flesh in restriction and I know that without occasionally depriving myself of all the wants i desire, then I typically become a slave to my flesh. This blog is the perfect example of that. So anyways, with all that said, take a lesson from me and evaluate your own heart. What do You choose over God? You can say you love God but what is it that you spend all your time daydreaming about or spending your money on? What do you look to as your source of life? What do you give yourself over to? That's worship. That's idolatry, if it isn't God. I hope this is helpful to someone.......thanks for reading.
It's a sobering moment to hear God tell you in a gentle and loving way that, "You have an idol." I know what an idol is but just for the sake of clarity, I'll elaborate: Anything you choose Over God.Whatever you look to for security, comfort, assurance, validation, or to make you feel better. Our flesh will make an idol out of anything. It could be shopping, food, fly fishing, video games, romance novels, another person,etc. "Over, above or apart from God is an idol," according to a teaching I listened to last night by John Eldrege. Well, my confession is that over the last week to two weeks, food has been an idol in my life. The worst part about it is that I knew it and still allowed it to take precidence over my relationship with God. I'm not a binge eater, not like that, but I found comfort from eating. Instead of my morning alone time with God, I'd lolly gag around the house, have breakfast and start my day, usually out the door. And even last night as I layed in bed, John's teaching was playing and I knew in my heart that I wasn't at peace with God, I still wasn't ready to end my sinful behavior. I deliberately was choosing what I knew was wrong. The teaching was timely and convicting, and I'm thankful for that. I began to ask the Holy Spirit to soften my heart to receive the wisdom being shared by John about idolatry. It worked. I humbled my heart and took everything in, applying it to my life as much as possible and repenting genuinely in my heart to God. I knew I was freed in that moment. You don't realize how easily we can lose the freedom that Jesus has given us. For example, if you tell a lie, you then become a slave to it because you have to remember what you told the person and who you told it to. You gotta watch yourself from that point on. You became a slave again to bondage that Jesus died to free us from. I had that head knowledge but I still chose to pick food as my comfort instead of God. I have no logical or good excuse or reason for that but I'm just so thankful for God and His unconditional love for me. It was His kindness that led me to repentance. Food is a source of life, true, but not in the same way that God gives life, you know? There is a balance and when Jesus is the center of my life, then things fall into proper order and i'm in that place right now. Reprioritizing. I used to fast once a week and found it to be very beneficial because it kept my flesh in restriction and I know that without occasionally depriving myself of all the wants i desire, then I typically become a slave to my flesh. This blog is the perfect example of that. So anyways, with all that said, take a lesson from me and evaluate your own heart. What do You choose over God? You can say you love God but what is it that you spend all your time daydreaming about or spending your money on? What do you look to as your source of life? What do you give yourself over to? That's worship. That's idolatry, if it isn't God. I hope this is helpful to someone.......thanks for reading.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Vegas Update
Things are in motion, and moving forward more quickly than we anticipated, but we ARE excited! Some things have happened during this last week that has confirmed that God is calling us to get going. I'll give you a little background so the pieces come together better.
Just before I moved to TN (5 years ago now), I was waitressing in my college town and served a very kind middle-aged couple. I noticed them pray over their food and in casual conversation I asked them if they were Christians. Sure enough! I then had the opportunity to share with them what God was calling me to in TN and I had only just found out that I was accepted. They gave me their address and asked me to keep them updated with my newsletters. It just so happened that they were passing through one more time when I was working one of my last shifts and I was able to sit down and have a meal with them, quite a pleasant surprise. They told me they live in Henderson, Nevada and travel to MT during the summers. Little did I know at that time that God would lead me (with a husband too!) to Las Vegas, right into the neighborhood of my friends Jan and Don. When I sent them the T.P.E. newsletter they were very excited and asked when we were coming! We didn't know, but were looking at 2-3 months. God hadn't revealed the WHEN although we had been asking for months. Well, they have offered their home to us and we're seeking confirmation that this is the door God has for us.
Monne and the Nidiffer family are currently in Florida for their much deserved, 2-3 week vacation. They are all moved out to Vegas into Georgia and Monne's house. Eric and Brenda are waiting to find out if the house they made an offer on will be accepted. Originally we planned to move out there when Eric and his family got into their own place and we would move into Monne's house until we got a place of our own. We're asking God to provide a house of our own, which is the desire of our hearts, and He'll provide in His perfect timing. But until then, we're so thankful for God allowing us to be together and working as a team to see Turning Point Experience come to fruition.
Monne and Georgia are flying to Nashville from Florida to pick up their last load of things and their other car and will then drive back to Las Vegas (while Eric and his family are going to fly straight back). Zach and I were talking about driving with the Monne and Georgia when they headed out West and without discussing that with Monne, he mentioned on the phone yesterday that it would be a good idea to caravan together. That sounds like confirmation to me. And it will be important to get there as soon as possible because the promo movie is being filmed in CA the first weekend of October and we want to be there for that.
There are plenty more details of connections and God's people coming together at such a time as this but for now, that's the jist of it. Thank you for your prayers and for joining us on this great adventure!
~The Zirbels
Just before I moved to TN (5 years ago now), I was waitressing in my college town and served a very kind middle-aged couple. I noticed them pray over their food and in casual conversation I asked them if they were Christians. Sure enough! I then had the opportunity to share with them what God was calling me to in TN and I had only just found out that I was accepted. They gave me their address and asked me to keep them updated with my newsletters. It just so happened that they were passing through one more time when I was working one of my last shifts and I was able to sit down and have a meal with them, quite a pleasant surprise. They told me they live in Henderson, Nevada and travel to MT during the summers. Little did I know at that time that God would lead me (with a husband too!) to Las Vegas, right into the neighborhood of my friends Jan and Don. When I sent them the T.P.E. newsletter they were very excited and asked when we were coming! We didn't know, but were looking at 2-3 months. God hadn't revealed the WHEN although we had been asking for months. Well, they have offered their home to us and we're seeking confirmation that this is the door God has for us.
Monne and the Nidiffer family are currently in Florida for their much deserved, 2-3 week vacation. They are all moved out to Vegas into Georgia and Monne's house. Eric and Brenda are waiting to find out if the house they made an offer on will be accepted. Originally we planned to move out there when Eric and his family got into their own place and we would move into Monne's house until we got a place of our own. We're asking God to provide a house of our own, which is the desire of our hearts, and He'll provide in His perfect timing. But until then, we're so thankful for God allowing us to be together and working as a team to see Turning Point Experience come to fruition.
Monne and Georgia are flying to Nashville from Florida to pick up their last load of things and their other car and will then drive back to Las Vegas (while Eric and his family are going to fly straight back). Zach and I were talking about driving with the Monne and Georgia when they headed out West and without discussing that with Monne, he mentioned on the phone yesterday that it would be a good idea to caravan together. That sounds like confirmation to me. And it will be important to get there as soon as possible because the promo movie is being filmed in CA the first weekend of October and we want to be there for that.
There are plenty more details of connections and God's people coming together at such a time as this but for now, that's the jist of it. Thank you for your prayers and for joining us on this great adventure!
~The Zirbels
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