Crazy Love?

I am a reader. I love, love books. But I'm more of a "fiction book" fan because I love a good STORY. But I'm about to read Crazy Love by Francis Chan. A little nervous. Slightly intimidated. Ready to be challenged. Anything that is subtitled "Overwhelmed By a Relentless God" is bound to instill a little... shall we say... holy hesitation? I'm already a bit overwhelmed after reading these lines in the Preface: "This book is... for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do." and "Come with me on this journey. I don't promise it will be painless." YIKES. We'll see how this goes.

Here's to reading nonfiction. Truth. Challenges.

Football and Blessings

New pics of Parker posted on the family blog...

We went to the Central-Catholic game tonight, but insanely huge crowd + Parker wanting to run around + fear of my car getting stuck as more and more people put ruts in the extremely, extremely muddy parking area= totally stressed out Janee. I love my Cats, but I really, really didn't want to deal with a stuck car at the end of the game when Parker was exhausted and ready to go home. That rain this morning completely destroyed the field where people park at Wildcat Stadium, and I really believe that the longer I stayed, the less likely it would've been for me to get out! So I'm listening to the boys totally run over Catholic High... 53-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter!!! I remember the days where Central simply could. not. beat. Catholic High.

I love teaching at "my" school. Everything is just so much more exciting for me! I am so, so blessed to be in a place where I feel "at home." I love my coworkers, bosses, students... it's such a great place for me to be! I mean, come on, I'm even excited about FOOTBALL! I'm so proud of the football players I taught last year and the ones I'm teaching now. Not only are they great athletes, they are incredible kids! I'm so glad they're doing so well!

So go check out pics of mini-cheerleader Parker on the other blog!

Baby Cohen

My precious, precious friend Jessica had her sweet baby boy on Monday, and I am so excited! It has been a while since one of my good friends had a baby!! We got to go see Cohen at the hospital the day he was born, and I thought I'd share a few pics of this tiny little man! (He was 5lb 13oz!)

I am so proud of Jess- she is such a great mom already!! I can't wait to watch sweet little Cohen grow up!!

Joy

Last week in community group, we discussed JOY... We looked at several scriptures that talk specifically about how God is joyful. One of those verses is Zephaniah 3:17-- "the Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." I have always really liked this verse, but then we took it a step further. Basically, the summary of our discussion was this..

We, as Christians, are designed to reflect that joy back to Him and to the world. That joy isn't something we can create on our own, it is something that requires our dependence on Him! He commands us to be joyful ("rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!"). So if we are commanded to be joyful, it is a sin NOT to be joyful???? God has joy in ME! how could I possibly NOT have joy in HIM??!

So, this is tough. Basically, joy exceeds my circumstances. It surpasses just surface happiness. So my motto for now is "Today, I will choose joy!"

Where I've Been.... And Where I WANT to Be...

So I've obviously been the biggest blog slacker EVER lately, both here and on Parker's blog. I've been... well.. working! Ha. And letting life take over and staying too "busy" with things that don't really matter. (As well as things that DO matter, don't get me wrong!) Tonight's Community Group really challenged me, which I will blog about SOON (I promise!), but then I got in my car, plugged in my iPhone, and opened Pandora. And THIS hit me...

Shane and Shane- "In You"

I sing for joy
In my remorse
A well within prosperity’s curse
That drowns the mighty oak of pride
But feeds the root of God inside.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
Somehow it all makes sense

In You I’m rich
When I’ve been made poor
Comfort found when I mourn
The prideful one You see from afar
Drawing near to low, broken hearts.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
But it all makes sense

Obviously God works in many ways, including the Pandora app on the iPhone. More later... but in summary.

Where I've Been: Busy-ness

Where I WANT to Be: In HIM

Music Monday-The Power of Your Name

We recently started singing this song at church, and I LOVE it. If you have time, watch the video behind the song too.... it makes the song way cooler! : )

Surely children weren't made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what You saw
Let Your Kingdom come
Here in my heart

I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
I will give
With the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion

To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus Your name
Is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name
Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need

Wordless Wednesday- Wildcat Fan Edition

(Will Briscoe is the Wildcat quarterback and my former student!)