Defining the Charms of the South

There is beauty to be appreciated all over North America; you can find something charming and distinct anywhere that you go. There is something more to be discovered, however, once you leave the cold, sparkling cities of the North. Find a southbound interstate and let it run like sand through the Appalachian mountains, or down through the Great Plains. Watch Missouri open up to you like a gateway. The streets are cracked and the gas pumps are rusty; welcome home.

The Southern United States, when viewed through the right pair of eyes, is a dreamland of eccentric characters and tangled roots. But it does take a certain perspective to truly appreciate this. Many people who do not live in the South can only see the area as popular media respresents it. From Trueblood to the Beverly Hillbillies, they treat everything they watch and read as if it is gospel. The South is full of Gospel, alright - just not the kind everyone else is thinking.

Have you ever heard a Southern preacher deliver a sermon? Whether you are deeply convicted or consider yourself agnostic, you are missing out if you have never attended a revival in the Bible Belt. Southern evangelists often turn preaching into an Olympic event. They do not look down at the church from a podium; they pace up and down the aisles thumping their Bibles. They break a sweat. They are not afraid to raise their voices. And it is in their voices - thick and baying with the cadence of the South - that the conviction in their heart shines through the strongest.

Religion is just one example of how firmly things can take hold of you in the South. If you have not heard, people are often described as being nicer once you cross the Mason-Dixon Line. This strange phenomenon is not really phenomena at all: Southerners are just generally a happy breed. Their laid-back temperaments are as appealing as Caolina sunshine. Not to say there are no unfriendly people in the South. Go poking around the backwoods of Kentucky and you will find more than a few irate rebels. However, it is not the Southerner's philosophy to bemoan his condition.

Though the simple life reigns in the Land of Cotton, do not mistake the South for boring. There might not be a crime on every street corner, but there is always a mystery to unfold. The South is steeped in history and tradition. Everyone has a story. From Alabama's snake-handling churches to Louisiana's French Quarter, there is a spiritual magnetism that draws people in as strongly as the force that draws a compass needle North. It is this charm that truly defines the South.

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Your Great Name

Jesus…there is no greater name. As we have had a great start to the New Year in our family, full of so many possibilities, I can only think about how so many people are still strapped down by fear. I love the line in this song that says, “Every fear has no place, at the sound of Your great name.”

Lost are saved, find their way
At the sound of Your great name
All condemned feel no shame
At the sound of Your great name
Every fear has no place
At the sound of Your great name
The enemy, he has to leave
At the sound of Your great name
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
That all the world will praise your great name
All the weak find their strength
At the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls receive grace
At the sound of Your great name
The fatherless, they find their rest
At the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed, and the dead are raised
At the sound of Your great name
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
That all the world will praise your great name
Redeemer
My Healer
Almighty
My Savior
Defender
You are My King
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
That all the world will praise your great name

As you think of Jesus, what does the sound of His name mean to you? And what attribute of who He is are you believing Him to be for you in 2011?
Helper. Healer. Savior. Teacher. Father. Friend. Redeemer. King. Provider. You name it. Go. (the good news is that He is & always will be “all of the above.”)

New Year...Thinking about what REALLY matters

It's the start to a NEW year, which is a fresh start...which in turn causes everyone to think about what they want to change in their life, for the better. With the start of this new year, I've been thinking about the things that I need to do, just to try a little harder to glorify God with my actions. I know it's been a while since I've blogged...but here are my thoughts...
Far too often I seek God's blessings instead of seeking God. I seek His hand instead of His heart. Like a child with a long Christmas list, at times I run to my heavenly Father as if He's a celestial Wal-Mart purposed to satisfy my every want. Instead of leaning in to hear the whispered will of the Lord, I selfishly shout my will - my desires - my demands. I'd rather have relief from life-pressures than gain the strength to endure them and the lessons I'm intended to learn from them. When I'm desperate to fill my over-sized heart-cart with things that I think I need, I rob myself of what really matters: the pursuit of God and the blessings found in Him alone.

Why do we desire God's intervention in our lives more than His presence? Why do we think that we know what we need? It's so arrogant of us to tell God how to be God. Isn't that what we do when we stomp our feet before His throne and whine about all the things that need fixing instead of praising Him for the strength He graciously gives us to endure? While we're certainly encouraged by Scripture to make our requests known to the Father (Philippians 4:6), the highest calling on our lives is to love God with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds (Matthew 22:37). What really matters is seeking God and seeking Him first.

God knows that our selfish and demanding hearts bring loads of unnecessary anxiety to our days. His Word gives an amazing solution to our priority problem. He promises that when we chase His heart, we can relax and rest in His peace. Our needs will be met because He loves us.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:30-34, NLT)

The Message version of the Bible says it like this:
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, and do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes" (Matthew 6:30-34, MSG).

So, my goal for this new year, is to set my list of wants aside and seek God. I want to strive to go before Him with a heart or worship and adoration. I WANT to GET LOST in His presence. Remember His mercy. Relish in His grace. Love Him. Seek Him. Pray. Put first things first.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).
Please know that I am not suggesting that I think we shouldn't go to God with our burdens. We must! But God wants my love before my list.
God loves me so much. His plan is perfect and His ways are mysterious. He knows my needs and He knows my desires. When I remember what really matters I can rest in the knowledge that He's working on my behalf, and in my best interest, to bring glory to Himself through my life.

7 weeks and counting!

I don't know about anyone else, but it literally feels like these last 33 weeks have absolutely flown by! I went to the doctor last week for my biweekly appointment and my 4d ultrasound. Crissie is growing right along where she needs to be and weighed almost 4 lbs!

We got a pretty good view of our beautiful baby girl....

Got to count her little toes...

And even got a glimpse of the attitude that is to come...She's gonna be a rotten one for sure!! So, then after the ultrasound, they got my vitals and all, then I saw Dr. Stevens. I've only gained 4.5 lbs since the very beginnning, and the baby weighs almost 4, so I'm feeling pretty good! Dr. Stevens actually said that my wieght gain is perfectly fine, and I might actually weigh less when I leave the hospital than what I did when I first got pregnant! Pretty cool, huh?!

So this past Sunday, which was Valentine's Day, we went out with a lady from church and got some maternity pictures done. They turned out great, although in some of them, you can't even tell I have a belly...and then some, it's like, BAM! :) Here's just a little preview of what we did...

29 Weeks and growing like a weed!!

I haven't had much to write about these last couple of weeks, but David keeps telling me that I need to update this crazy thing! So after about 2 weeks, we finally got the nursery painted (and when I say "we", I really mean David and his dad!!). So after the painting was finished, I grabbed the Uppercase Living design for the wall above the crib and went to work. I held it in place while David did the measuring, and once we got it centered and rubbed onto the wall, it looks BEAUTIFUL! David then hung the curtains, and we got all the furniture moved back into the room...everything is definitely coming together!! I'll try to get some pictures posted here in the next couple of days.

So this Saturday marks 29 weeks! People here at work are starting to make comments about how my belly has just really started to "pop"....and some say it's deceiving because I am still so small. I lost 15 lbs in my first trimester, and have only gained 2 of those back. Dr. Stevens isn't worried about the baby's growth rate or weight. She says babies are a lot like "parasites" int he fact that they will take what they need first, and then my body will get the leftovers. I've not really been worried about Crissie growing anyway, simply because I can tell that she's getting bigger and stronger with each passing day. I just love laying in bed each night, feeling her settling in for a nice long nap. It's fun to play the guessing game with David too, when there's a random body part pressing on the side of my abdominal wall. :)

I go back to see Dr. Stevens next Wednesday, the 27th, for a check-up. After this next visit, I should be starting my bi-weekly check-ups, which simply means the big day is just growing closer!! My first shower is in Maryville on February 27th, at Maggie's, and we are super excited!! I'll try to get some new pictures up here soon!! :)

Life in 2009

Hey guys!

So here on the LAST day of 2009 I find myself sitting in my living room writing to you. We have had an INCREDIBLY eventful year! Unfortunately I have no pictures to upload at this time unlike my wonderful wife.

Anyway, here we embark upon the roller coaster of '09. Get in, strap up, and hold on! We shall start at the beginning. It will be a little boring; however, it will give a good overview of the rest of what is to come. Imagine it as the initial climb of the roller coaster...kind of boring, yet good overview.

Late in '08 we moved into an apartment outside of town. It was not the greatest place we have ever lived. However, it did get us out of a horrible situation with the first house we moved into here in Kingsport. Our new and improved landlord was wonderful! I actually grew up with his children. His wife homeschooled all three of his children. So I had known them through that aspect of my life for quite some time. Marc has also been involved in my musical shaping. He is the conductor of a city wide 4th of July musical that he and my father and a few other influential people from our community had put together. Needless to say, the Strands have been family friends for quite a while.

That brings us into the first little tumble or drop on the roller coaster. At this point (we are now to the beginning of the year) Nikki began working at Cardiovascular Assc. and I began working at Bookshelf Central. We both really enjoy our jobs. We are also hoping to advance in each of our personal fields. As far as positions within the company go, Nikki has quite a bit of room to expand and for myself...well I have no higher to go. I manage the whole she-bang! Anyway, I digress.

As you have no doubt already read previously, Nikki is now pregnant. We are having a baby girl! We are going to name her Crissie Grace. She is already a huge joy in our lives! She is growing like a weed! As a matter of fact, last night we were laying in bed last night and I was able to lay my head on Nikki's tummy and I could her Crissie Grace's heartbeat! It's amazing how much I already love my little girl!

Also you have also probably read that we have bought our first house. We started moving in on October 1. We have now almost totally got everything set up. However, that by no means we are totally done with everything! We found some mold in the basement that I have now totally removed. Unfortunately, the more I worked in the basement the more problems I found. One fine example is this. There were some metal shelving units down there. They were quite rusted, so obviously I pulled them out of the basement. However, on the very first unit that I took out, as soon as I moved it away from the wall, the wall fell! Well, come to find out, behind the "wall" (which wasn't even a wall it was just stucco!) there was nothing but dirt! It was just stucco! No brick, nothing! Just dirt. So I had to then brick it all in because literally everything in the basement is load bearing! Fun stuff.

So that almost brings us up to speed. It just leaves Christmas! Nikki and I recently had a conversation that we both agreed that this Christmas has been the best for us so far! We think '10 will be slightly better just because we will have a beautiful baby girl to celebrate it with us! Anyway, why was it so great you ask? Well hold your horses and I'll tell you! Yes we got some AMAZING gifts, like I got a puppy from Nikki (Timberwolf Hybrid!), I got Nikki a Keurig coffee pot. (if you don't know what that is, look it up!) We got ourselves a new LCD 42" TV. Ed and Kathy got us a Blu-ray player and a GPS. Mom and Dad got us a new grill. Kelley and Saralynn gave us cash (always welcome!) and a pretty stinking sweet wine rack! But no, those are not what made Christmas great. Christmas was great because we got to see lots of family and emotions got the best of us very little! Grandparents, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends - they all made it marvelous! Nikki's dad also got married a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic wedding! She now has a step-mother who, in my opinion, is absolutely hysterical. Getting to be a part of that just made Christmas even more memorable! However, beyond even all that, Jesus Christ is really the reason for the season and He is the one that made it so explicitly, splendidly great!

Two days ago Mom and Dad celebrated their 25th anniversary. Which is setting a great example to Nikki and I. We have only been married for a little over 2 years now, and have loved every minute of it. I can't and don't want to imagine my life without Nikki. She is more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife! God definitely knew what He was doing when He made her specifically for me! I pray that we will have many, many more years to come!

As we enter the new year tomorrow, my prayer for all of you is that you seek God's will in everything you do. Always give Him the honor and glory He deserves! May He bless all your endeavors. So long 2009.