Coffee Talk with Christie

God has been so good to me. In this New Year, I want to share God's goodness with others.

I love the life God has given me. Each morning I thank Him for all the friends I have encountered and the loving family that will ALWAYS BE THERE for me when I need them.

What can I say? I LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL! (and I LOVE THE SONG!)

While visiting my grandmother recently, I feel like God reminded me that He wants us to be "forever young" in Him.

Let me explain: Ephesians 5:27 (NLT) - He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

My grandmother has Alzheimer's. While I sat with her a few weeks ago, she was rubbing my hand and trying to gently push down the wrinkles I have on my knuckles.

While she did this I noticed her age spots. She is absolutely beautiful. I began thinking of spots and wrinkles and Ephesians 5:27 came to mind.

Even though this is not theologically correct (this is NOT what the scripture is actually saying), it drove a point home to me.

Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. When I think of spots or wrinkles I think of the aging process.

I want to be young in Christ - forever young. I want to have the faith of a child, no matter how old I get. I want my relationship with Christ to be exciting and fresh, not boring and stale.

Fall in love with Christ again today - and be FOREVER YOUNG.

From me :
Is it FRIDAY YET?!?!?!? How are you doing today? I thought of you last night.

My friend:
I KNOW!! I’m sooo ready for this weekend. Thank you – it’s been almost 10 years but I’ll never stop missing him – he really was such an amazing man, father and friend and it is so devastating that he’s not here – I need him during the hard times and miss him during the happy times.

It just doesn’t seem right when people like that are taken from us – I know I should look at it from the “everything happens for a reason” perspective, but that seems naïve to me most days. So I just keep living a life that I think would make him smile, carry his lessons and try to be as good of a person as he was.

From me:
My grandfather passed away over 20 years ago, and it has only recently become easier for me to talk about it. I did not talk to anyone about what happened to him or how it affected me deep inside until I met Dan – I could not even utter the words for over 10 years after it happened.

I did not trust anyone – I would not let anyone get too close to me – I always had my guard up, because I was afraid that if I got too close to someone they would be taken away from me. I did not want to endure the pain of that happening again.

He wasn’t my father, so I am not trying to compare my situation with yours.

I really feel for you. If I can ever listen, be a shoulder for you to cry on or a strength to you – I’m here.

It is also hard for me to think of things happening for a reason, sometimes I feel like we are all checker pieces, on a grand checker board, that God just moves as he pleases – which can be very frustrating.

I try to remember that God is sovereign and merciful – He loves us so much and keeps our tears in a bottle (that’s what the Bible says). I know He cares for us – I think He knows everything from the beginning to the end, so trusting Him (though it is so very difficult at times) is what I try to do to get through each day.

From my friend:
I’ve never heard of God keeping our tears in a bottle, but the concept really comforts me – it makes them not seem so wasteful – that they are precious, which they are.

From me:
Psalm 56:8 - You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

It is comforting, isn’t it.

The overman...Who has organized the chaos of his passions, given style to his character, and become creative. Aware of life's terrors, he affirms life without resentment.
- Friedrich Nietzsche -

i wanted to take time to write this evening as my week is quickly filling up with places to go and things to do...

i am happy to report that dan and i are going to asheville tomorrow evening for a birthday getaway, but will be back for our community volunteer service on saturday morning. we are going to the second harvest food bank in winston-salem to help sort canned food items for the hungry. tis' the season!

so... i was shopping at Target last thursday and ended up purchasing a chocolate fountain for the arts council - as i went to pay for my purchase, i pulled out my new card holder, that a precious friend gave to me. the cashier went crazy over my new gift.

i took note of her name - and made sure to write it down as i got into my car.

i rarely do this kind of thing - only because i tend to have quite a few meaningful intentions that fall through the cracks as i live my life.

this time, i actually followed through on what i thought would be a really cool act of random kindness.

i purchased a card holder for the cashier and took it to her on monday. i found that they sell these nifty little pieces of art at Steinmart.

yeah, i was a little nervous, i didn't want her to think that i was a weirdo - i just wanted to show her that sometimes people give for no reason at all - just maybe to show a little love to someone who needs it.

i waited in line, and for a split second i thought of just dropping the gift at the manager's station, but remembered that he told me to give it directly to the cashier myself...

oh well, i was up - it was my turn to purchase something - instead, i told her that she may not remember me, but i remembered that she loved my card holder - and i wanted to give one to her.

she came across the counter and hugged me so tightly that i thought i was going to bust!

she said, "how sweet!" "oh my goodness!" "i cannot believe you did this for me!"

yeah, i pretty much walked away feeling like i was floating on cloud 9 - it feels so good to make someone's day, for no real reason at all.

i gave her a Christmas card with my name and phone number in it - telling her to call me anytime, i will be there for her if she ever needs me.

so... last week, i was very sick.

i was taking an antibiotic for upper respiratory complications.

the medicine that i was taking prevented me from sleeping much through the night (from Monday through Friday) - i decided not to take the last pill - because i have had enough of all the side effects of the medicine. i am feeling better now, so, no worries. =)

on friday evening, we had a youth Christmas banquet. we stayed in raleigh afterwards, and this is where i believe God began to deal with me in a very real way about hunger. (it will make sense in a few...)

falling asleep
it was close to 1 a.m. and dan and i were both falling slowly asleep while watching the dog whisperer in our hotel room.

alas! sleep
2 a.m. rolled around, i had dozed off, but woke up with tears flowing from my eyes, feeling as if my throat was being held shut, i couldn't breathe.

freaking out
that was all it took, i freaked out, then woke dan, which i hate to do, but i was really afraid and wasn't sure if this was yet another side effect of the medicine i had been taking. (when i called the pharmacist about the side effects i was having, days prior, he asked me if i was having trouble breathing, at that point, i wasn't... but i remembered that conversation when i woke up at 2 a.m. on saturday morning)

dan prayed for me and dozed back off.

it was 2:45 a.m. and i was still awake, not as freaked out as i was before, but my stomach began to feel so hungry!

at 2:45 a.m. i rummaged through my change purse to see what kind of coins i had for something from the vending machine that i dreamed was outside of my door, along with the soda machine. peanut butter crackers is what my heart was set on.

i quietly opened the door to our hotel room, and headed to the vending machine, only to find a soda machine. that's it, only a soda machine.

i went back to the room and slowly climbed back into bed, trying not to disturb my husband. (as i sulked)

i turned the t.v. back on to try to fall asleep again, i think it helped, by 3:35 i had fallen back asleep, only to be awakened by the smell of breakfast being made on the floor below us. "yes!" i thought, "it must be 6 a.m. already" - this is the most sleep i have had (consecutive hours-wise, in a week!)

i rolled over and turned the alarm clock toward me, "what?! it was only 4 a.m.!"

i was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hungry and i had nothing - i even thought of getting in my car and going through a mcdonald's drive-thru, anything to get some food, the hunger i felt was all i could think about.

i found one peppermint mento in my purse, and thought that might help.

through this past week, i hadn't eaten much because of the medicine, my stomach was sensitive to everything - so for me to feel hungry was different from the usual feeling i had when i thought of food.

i thought, "i will never be able to fall asleep with the wonderful smell of breakfast beneath me!" i had two more hours until breakfast would be served. this was absolutely horrible.

i prayed that God would help me ignore the smell of the food that i wanted to badly, and help me fall back asleep quickly.

i began to think of those who go hungry every night, those that have no place to sleep, to stay warm. i honestly felt like God was trying to show me something.

the next thing i remember was waking up at 8 a.m., getting myself together, just enough to take the elevator down to get breakfast. I slept from a little after 4 until 8 - this was a major success in my week!

i came back to the room, took my first bite, man, food never tasted so good! i made a waffle, brought up a blueberry muffin and a fruit and cheese danish for dan, along with two cups of coffee. it was just what i wanted.

the more i have pondered the events of that evening, my thoughts are not only about those that go without food, but it has developed into a spiritual thought over the past few days.

david said, "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."

i thought of the man vs. wild episode i watched that evening, this crazy guy was in the dessert in south africa, searching for something, anything to eat or drink to sustain his life.

psalm 107:9 says, "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."

job 23:12 says, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]. "

if only i hungered for God like i hungered that evening, i think i would be right on track.

God is changing me in so many ways, and i am so very thankful for it.

today is my friend, mike's, birthday! happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to m-i-i-ke happy birthday to you!

so, yeah, i have not written in what feels like forever.

to give you an update on my neighbor, she was discharged the day i went to see her in the hospital. God had other plans for her and i am thankful for that.

as i was falling asleep last night i was singing of how much i love God - He truly inspires me each day - inspiration, if i remember correctly, means breathed - "God-breathed" - He has breathed into me the breath of life, His Words are as meat to my bones - (maybe i am reading too much lately =) ha! ha!) (that's another story for another time, or maybe not, now that i think about it! =)

i am thankful for true friends, a loving family, and my readers who click on my ads =) because that makes me a little extra cash...

speaking of which, did you hear about the pirate ship's treasure that was found recently?!?!

i would have loved to have found THAT treasure. (it is over three hundred years old!)

dan and i were talking about that this morning as we were having breakfast - that, my friend, would be a goldmine - i always say land mine instead of goldmine, dan always corrects me. =)

not sure if you are reading our ninetyandnine blog or not, but i recently decided to clean out our home office, and man, were there some pretty strong feelings surrounding that idea... check out our blog on www.ninetyandnine.com/month for more details.

have a wonderful weekend!

Christie

what?!?! i know!

i REALLY AM blogging twice in one day...

i am eating my lunch from cat's cafe - their famous chili is my favorite, even though it is making me cry, it is so hot!

i am enjoying my full-time job today.

i am going to visit my neighbor in the hospital after work.

i better get back to work now - just thought i would pop on for a minute.

hope you're having a great one!

reality is beginning to hit me - urgh... back to work i go... and full-time - beginning this monday.

enough complaining!

this morning i woke up and found myself falling back asleep while i was praying for my family. this happens just about each morning.

i have so much to be thankful for - i love my family, i love my husband, dan, ( here is a plug for his most excellent blog...http://danponjican.blogspot.com)

today, i feel very thankful for what God is doing in our lives and in our ministry.

last night we had teen class, the students seemed to have a desire to learn what we were teaching in order to teach inmates in a local minimum security prison - on what it is to be FREE. free from sin, free from negative thought processes and free to begin a new life - each day.

i am in md - with my family - we stayed up until after 2 a.m. counting coins last night.

eliz and i determined that we would count all of the coins in mom's coin jar - she has been saving coinage for almost ten years!!! my lord!

this has become our weekend project. =)

we have rolled $76 worth of coinage so far - today we are taking the pennies that weigh more than eliz and i combined to a coinstar... i know... they charge about 8% - which eliz and i think is worth it for the pennies... my mom wants to roll these right here and right now...

gotta run... i will write more later...

oh, one more thing, dan did his first detailing job yesterday and had great results!

i will write more later...

yippee! i am going home soon =)

i am so looking forward to spending time with my family, i have not seen them since may - i only live seven hours away... that's insane... i must do better in the future to find time to get away.

so, what's on your mind today?

i have recently become overwhelmed by God's perfect plan unfolding in mine and dan's lives.

God really DOES know the desires of your heart and He really will open doors for His purpose to be accomplished through you.

be encouraged, YOU ARE on God's mind - and He DOES hear us when we talk to Him.

wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart, wait i say, on the Lord.

yesterday was my little sister's birthday and as we all know the anniversary of a very sad time for our country.

i took time to call my sister to chit chat about her happy day.

i also took time to reflect on the loss that was experienced by many on september 11th, 2001.

i remember the day so well. dan had taken me to work at dupont pharmaceuticals in wilmington, de and was on his way to my parent's place.

it was around 9 a.m.

i was working in my office, listening to christian radio online, when i heard the horrible news, that i didn't even believe at first. i honestly thought that it was some kind of halloween trick, even though halloween was still a while away.

once i realized this was actually happening, i called dan and asked him to pick me up, our office closed down almost immediately.

i joined my family to watch the news. how devastating this attack was - and the lives that were taken, how could this have happened?

i do not remember feeling worried or thinking twice about our freedom, until that day.

now, each time i am in a large public gathering or on an airplane, i wonder if i am really safe.

i know God is watching us. bad things do happen to good people though.

not to get too spiritual here, the Bible says that it rains on the just and the unjust, and God is no respecter of persons.

i guess this means we should be ready for our eternity at any time. we never know when that will be. life is truly a vapor. we are here for a season and then we are gone.

myspace, facebook, e.c. - aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

who has time to keep their profile updated on all of these sites?

not sure how many people read this here little blog (said with the most southern accent Christie could conjure up) but do YOU have a preference?

i have recently been introduced to facebook by my friend, Sam, and i think it is more user friendly than myspace.

now, for the REAL deal... last night... i couldn't sleep. i take that back, last night, i kept falling asleep only to be awaken abruptly by who knows what.

ever try praying when you are half awake and half asleep - i felt like it was useless, i couldn't keep my thoughts together long enough to whisper complete sentences. how frustrating.

i kept thinking of my family up north - i need to make a trip up that way - i miss them so much!

today's thing: i want to be the church, yes. more than doing a good deed, i want to create lasting and meaningful relationships with seekers.

yesterday, my eye was bothering me. the head of the hr department where i work, came to my desk to chit-chat - and the next thing i know, she is offering up a prayer for my eye. (not to mention my patience level, which had sunk beneath the deepest pit of the earth.)

i'm telling you, my watermelon NLT has gotten me places over the past few days that i never imagined. this same lady and i are planning a lunch date to talk about the different versions of the Bible.

God is so cool. all we have to do is knock, (carry around your Bible) and the door will be opened to you (for conversations about the words inside that powerful little book.)

happy "be the church" day!

i'm really diggin' my new Bible.

i have used the nlt version a number of times in my online studies, but wanted to have something to keep at my side for "anytime" study... yes, my dear friend, i am really diggin' this thing!

it turned heads when i took it to work yesterday. that's how cool my new book looks.

during my "God time" this morning while sipping my mudslide coffee from gloria jeans, i acknowledged that i may have been a little too stuffy with sticking to the kjv only. (before you throw stones, hear me out...) (i don't know why i think that some would throw stones at me for changing up my study version, i know that sounds silly... )

generally when i receive a revelation, it's something that an ant could understand. (why i chose an ant, i have no idea)

in my new watermelon Bible, the first verse i turned to was john 1:1-5 - it says, "in the beginning the Word already existed. the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. the Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

this simple revelation of mine, is just that, the spoken word is so powerful.

what we say can really affect someone else in amazing ways.

*the bad*

according to james 3:2 (kjv) - "for in many things we offend all. if any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body." (or show excellent self-control)

james 3:8 says, "but the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." (kjv) or (nlt) "but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison."

by these two verses, we see that the tongue can be such an evil thing - used to spread poison that can offend others.

*the good*

john says, "the words that i have spoken unto you are spoken through the Spirit and they are life." (john 6:63)

i peter 3:10 says... "if you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies." (nlt)

proverbs 25:11 - "a word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver." (kjv)

today, my desire is to speak life into God's creation. (that's pretty deep actually) i will be thinking on that for a while. =)

time has moved so quickly.

the weekend is over.

i fear that i barely remember the last few months.

life gets so busy.

too busy sometimes.

this is why, since north american youth congress, i am adamant about being the church.

time is passing far too quickly for us to NOT be making an impact in some one's life.

this weekend, my friend, sam and i went to "be the church" down the street from where i live.

we knocked on the door of a lady that i met three years ago, she reminded me... =) i thought it was only two years ago.

she has been to china, i have been to sri lanka, we met up in a grocery store years ago and promised each other that we would connect, to exchange pictures from our travels.

she goes to the baptist church around the bend.

i have joined her and her church family at Christmas tea.

she has joined me and my church family for a Christmas concert.

she is probably in her mid-late 70s. she is a retired school teacher and a widow.

sam and i stopped in to ask her what we could do for her. i knew she had a long list, because every time i drive by her place, she is out doing something.

we cut rubar then made a bed for her, in her guest house. more than working, she just wanted to sit down and visit.

we stayed for close to two hours, and have been invited back for leftovers tonight. =) we are really looking forward to a southern home-cooked meal.

she also sent us away with homemade grape jelly. it was so yummy, i had this on a peanut butter sandwich last night before i took my snooze.

she was probably equally "the church" to us as we were to her.

it still felt like the right thing to do.

at first, sam and i thought that we may be shoveling dirt for Ms. Ford, which we were both ready to do. (me in my swim shoes that sam made fun of. =) i guess God had other plans. =)

great friends, doing great work, what else could one ask for?

i've been saved to sacrifice
that's what he said
you are not to be lazy, or be misled

just keep on fishing!
these words still ring true
if you're not fishing for others, you are looking at you

Lord let me fish with all the strength that you give
and Lord always show me the way i should live

thanks for your word, it is truly a light
and each day i read it, it helps me to fight

fight for my freedom, my freedom from sin
that you gave me years ago, now i know, i win

this year is flying by!!!

i cannot believe it is already JUNE! it's kind of scary actually, when i look at this year and see what we have accomplished and think of all we could have accomplished, i feel a little kicked in the butt.

i will just have to do more for the rest of the year to make up for some of the things i wish i would have done earlier on. isn't it so cool to think of how life is with God? every day is a new day, old things are passed away and all things are become new, with each new morning.

i thank God that every morning when i wake up, i know that i have a fresh new start - regardless of what happened yesterday, if i have failed God in some way, and asked for forgiveness, i know he has forgiven me.... having faith is the coolest gift ever! i really believe that God gives my heart a huge bubble bath every single day. (that's putting it in kindergarten terms, i know... but the visual i get, is well, i guess like when i was a child - which God asks us to become when it comes to our faith in him) okay... moving right along...

i read last night, before falling asleep, 2 timothy 1 - i was really impressed by all that helped the apostle paul out on his journey - taking him in, seeking him out when he was in town to bless him in some way...

i would like to be like those wonderful saints of the most high... i want to be a blessing to others each day.

i am running late for work, so i better be going, but i wanted to encourage you today, to encourage others, seek them out and bless them by your words, your deeds, whatever, just do it in the name of the Lord. =)

so, i woke up this morning thinking of my mom and dad and how grateful i am for them.

after my alarm went off a gazillion times, i woke up, clicked the snooze button (for five more minutes of blissful rest), and began praying for my dad and my mom...no joke, like every single time my alarm went off, i would awake and begin praying... then fall back asleep again... i know that's horrible... but it's the thought that counts, God honors that!

i was very persistent! between 7am until, dare I say, my husband called in the later hours of the morning, i did this...

i need to call my parents today, i miss them so much.

we are going up north this weekend for memorial day, i am very thankful for this!

matthew 19:19 says, "Honour thy father and [thy] mother:..."

i give honor to my mom and dad today and always... i am so thankful for the many sacrifices they have made for me to live the life that i live and that i love living... they showed me the truth as a youngin' (as my mom would say), and they have led me in it all of my life. the Bible says, train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it. i am a testimony of this.

i cannot say enough about my parents, they have always believed in me, and that has meant the world! i certainly could never be where i am today, with the confidence that i have today, without their godly influence in my life.

i ask God everyday to keep His hand of protection upon them and to bless them in every area of their lives, physical health, finances, wisdom, patience, etc., etc., etc. =)

thanks God, for knowing exactly what i needed - before i was even born.

you have given to me the best parents on the planet!

i took time to write two different posts on friday, but both got deleted... so i am attempting to make up for those in this morning's post.

as i began studying the bible this morning, ii timothy stood out to me - there is so much in the first four chapters to digest, needless to say, i have alot on my mind at the moment.

if i must choose one topic, (and i must for the sake of time) i will go with ii timothy 4:5 - "but watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

the nlt(new living translation) says it this way, "but you should keep a clear mind in every situation. do not be afraid of suffering for the Lord. work at bringing others to Christ. complete the ministry God has given you."

the translation of the word work is business, employment, that which any one is occupied, that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind.

evangelist is translated as a bringer of good tidings, the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles.

make full proof is translated as: to cause a thing to be shown to the full, to be persuaded, fully convinced or assured, to fill one with any thought, conviction, or inclination, to carry through to the end, accomplish.

ministry is translated as of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men, those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities, the service of those who prepare and present food, of the office of prophets, evangelists, elders, etc.

i feel myself getting into the habit of leaving my blogs open-ended - i think i do this so that you can come to your own conclusions based on what i have found in my studies.

***

i pray that you feel instructed today, by the scriptures and encouraged to find something that you can do for God realizing that no matter how great or small, it is a ministry. (if it is done unto the Lord)

i recently gave to a girl, that i have begun mentoring, a pack of cards. she is unable to work, she cannot go to school and she cannot drive, but she can write. =) she may not be the best at it, but she can do it.

i gave to her addresses, stamps, envelopes and cards. i expressed to her that writing a note of encouragement, alone, is such a great ministry to those who need a boost in their daily walk. i know this sounds small to some, but to this girl, who is trapped at home all day, because of a physical handicap, this is going to become one of her ministries.

next on our list is volunteering at the local children's hospital. we have our first meeting this thursday. we are so excited about working together, ministering together, telling others about Jesus Christ, the hope of life and the reason for living.