GREEN-LIGHT revolution

So, this blog...is pretty personal. But in writing this I hope to encourage us to completely immerse ourselves in the love that God has for us...To throw ourselves with a whole heart into the deeply intimate relationship that desires with us.

This is a letter that I felt God lead me into writing to Him after I had let myself be too wrapped up in a relationship here, and was, of course, deeply disappointed and dissatisfied with the love I had been seeking elsewhere.

So, here goes.

To my leader, the one I long to be with above all, Jesus.
My love, you have stolen my heart. With you I am free to love without hesitance and without fault. You are my perfect love, my prince. You have awakened me to love. You have aroused all my passion. It is you who I live for, who I adore, and I who I give my life to. You are the bright morning star and the joy of all heaven. There is no one like you, my love. I am in awe of you my King, who has lead me out of death, the one who lead me into eternity.
It is you who are my comfort, and my provider. In you I will never want. My very being is dependant on you...it is in you that I am whole.
You are my first love and you have never led me astray.
You are my desire...the one I long to please...to make you happy is all I want.

love, your girl, Anna Lee

If you haven't done this recently I would encourage you to do it again and again. Tell your lover how much you love Him.

Going green! Anna Lee

A few weeks ago I was driving to campus for my 9am Writing & Research class. It was pretty early still, and I wasn’t fully chipper just yet. I pulled into the parking lot, and stopped in my usual spot (30 miles away from the English building). It had just snowed the night before and I was thinking to myself how beautiful it made campus look. I went through my day; nothing special or extraordinary. I went to work, I ate lunch, and I did homework. 5pm finally rolled around and I bounded out of the office and begun the grand trek through the wilderness back to my car. I hadn’t really been paying much attention to what was around me as I walked to my car, but as I neared it I looked at the open field that was behind the parking lot. I had to stop and stare at the beauty I saw. The field was covered in a soft blanket of snow and dotted like wild flowers was a gathering of grey snow geese. I was amazed. Their grey downy feathers against the stark white snow looked like luxurious cashmere. It literally caught my breath! I drove home praising and thanking God for such a special gift.

Needless to say, I pondered that picture over and over for the next several days. I just knew there had to be some vast, profound, eternal meaning, or some piece of wisdom that God wanted to show to me through those geese. But after thinking about it, and trust me I’ve thought about it a lot, I’ve come to the conclusion that sometimes God just likes to sneak up on us. Putting the geese there for me to see was simply His way of showing me beauty. Our King is truly the author of romance! He knows all the little things that make our heart flutter, and He loves to place those things in our day when we would least expect it. I don’t know about you, but I sure do love it!

Going Green!
Miss

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, and you must know... I am NOT single! That's right folks! I've got myself one smokin' hot date! This Guy sweeps me off my feet EVERY time.

I've known Him for a long time now. I met Him when I was about 5 or 6, but it's only been in the last couple of years that we've REALLY been getting to know each other. He's become my Best Friend; and more recently, He's also become my full-time Lover. I was waiting for Him all along... all these years, though I didn't know it... until one day He spoke to me and said:





The only thing special about Valentine's Day is that it's another day to be with my Lover... THE ETERNAL LOVER OF MY SOUL. His name is Jesus--the name you've been dying to hear. If you've not met Him yet, He's got more love to give than you could ever imagine. And He'll rescue you--just give Him one chance.

If you do know Him, why don't you plan a date together tomorrow? Matter of fact, why don't you just show up and give a knock on His door, cuz I guarantee He's already got one amazing date planned for the two of you--a very special Valentine's Day between you and the God of the universe who loves you eternally more than anyone on planet earth tomorrow could.

Here's wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day.

Going Green,
bek

While running in the park on Monday afternoon, I found myself almost oblivious to St. Louis' cold temperature, wind and snow. There's no question conditions were adverse--I saw only two people throughout the entire course of my run--a normally busy park was completely empty.

Despite the cold, I was filled with a complete pleasure! I thoroughly enjoy running, and there's something about being outdoors, especially during inclement weather, that invigorates my mind, body and soul. And so, I completed a 5 mile run, unrestrained by the winter weather.

Stretching afterward in the parking lot, I saw those only two people get out of their car with their dogs and begin walking. Suddenly there was a bark, and the couple shifted pace into a brisk jog. I watched as they ran, laughing while their dogs pulled them along. What particularly struck me about this scene was the man's business suit... including his nice pair of shoes! And there he was, in the winter wind and snow laughing and jogging along, uninhibited by his suit and unrestrained by the weather. I thought to myself, "I want to have joy like that--uninhibited and unrestrained--regardless of circumstances!"

More-so than my running, I've thoroughly come to enjoy God's love and grace in my life, and there's something about running through the adverse times knowing He's with me that invigorates my mind, body and soul more than anything else. Life's seasons aren't always favorable, but knowing His love allows me to "run free" even when things are rough. I don't always enjoy life, but I thoroughly enjoy living because of God's love and the true life He's gifted me in Christ. In His love and His love only, I find complete joy and feel His good pleasure.

Daily His love invigorates my soul. May I be more uninhibited and more unrestrained in expression of that joy which only His love brings me, especially when conditions are adverse.

Going Green,
bek

I’m going to Seminary!!!!!!!!!!

So…long story short…God has placed a passion in my life to see college students transformed, to build into them, challenge them, and encourage them to find out who they are in Jesus.

I have thought about seminary in the past but it never seemed right. If I’m honest, a piece of me was waiting for a husband before I pursued that career path. As if, at my current stage of life I was somehow unable to be used by God…LIE!

But then a friend spoke solid truth to me: you don’t wait to run after God, you do it NOW!

So here I am, 25 years old, running hard after what I feel God has placed on my heart.

What’s holding you back????

Going green,
Cath

Hello Green-Light Revolution,

Today I heard the sad news that one of my old campers from a Christian summer camp I worked at for years passed away this weekend.

Makenzie was a beautiful, smart, funny, girl who loved life and loved Jesus.

She was a only seventeen, heading to school when she hit a patch of ice and her car spun out of control.

How often do we assume that we will always have another day? I am so thankful that Kenzie knew Jesus and that God gives peace that surpasses understanding.

But dear readers, I challenge you, please live today, be thankful today, don't put off brokenness, or sin, or unreconciled relationships...

Please pray for Kenzie's family and friends

Going green,
Cath

http://www.fletcherfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/Fletch1/obit.cgi?user=169825Goode

Definition of Insanity:

The definition of insanity is changing nothing, but expecting different results….um…it would appear that I am insane!

Do you ever come back to the same place, (mentally, spiritually, physically), and say to yourself, “This time it is going to be different.”…No? Just me? Because I find myself continuously coming back to the same situation and proclaiming that this time around things are going to change.

But my problem….I don’t actually change anything, I just expect different results. When I write it down I realize just how crazy that sounds, but seriously, SERIOUSLY, why do we have to change in order for other things to change?...the sluggard in me does not deal well with the proactive approach to change.

Dang it! I just wish I could see the end result, the big picture…but that’s not what life looks like. We act, in faith, until one day we can see the beauty of all the details worked out. Like any ornate tapestry, its exquisite nature is only truly comprehended when we step back.

Let’s just say that as much as I want to see the bigger picture at all times, I am thankful that God sees the bigger picture, that He is at work in the details, that He is working together all things for the good of those who love Him, (Romans 8:28), and that one day we can step back with Him.

In the mean time…I guess I need to change…in faith…trusting that again, He sees the big picture. Until the day it is time to step back, it is my job to step out!

Going green!!!!
Cath