the water hole

I love spending time out on the lake. The lake offers so many different entertainment opportunities: fishing, swimming, boating, tubing, &, of course, dreaming. If you asked me which of these activities are my favorite I would just smile & choose them all. Honestly, the activity is only as enjoyable as the company.

I love fishing with my dad & brothers, Jarid and Craig.Why? Hmm...hard to say. Part of it is the live bait, the stillness of the lake, creek, or river, & the time that I am able to spend with my family. If I spent a whole day fishing & never caught anything, the day would not be a waste (maybe a little disappointing, but not a waste).

Swimming, whether done in a above-ground or in-ground pool, lake, creek, or ocean is always fun. I love feeling the sand between my toes & feeling the pressure of water all around me. Sometimes I wish I was Disney's Ariel and could spend my life Under the Sea, but then again, I enjoy life on land too.

Canoe, pontoon, paddle-boating, 15 footer, or 60 footer--boating is fun (are you getting the point that I love being on or surrounded by water?)! From the ages 5 to 8, my family & I spent a week or two every summer helping with my church's camp: Southland Christian Camp & Conference in Northern Louisiana. I think the most beautiful thing about Southland is the lake that the camp surrounds. No matter where you stand on the campground you can see the beautiful deep blue water of the lake. Rather than walk around the lake, Dad & I would canoe from our cabin to where ever we needed to be. It was cool to spend time just with Dad out on the lake. When I was finally old enough to attend Southland as a camper, I could never get enough of boating out on the lake. One summer I went canoeing or paddle boating with every girl in my cabin as well as my counselor.

Tubing! Ok, so I've only done this a couple of times, but I had amazing fun every time. Pastor Bishop took the singles Sunday school class out on Blue Springs Lake to enjoy some fun in the sun--swimming & tubing on his family's boat. Jarid, Lindsay, & I joined a couple other singles & had an awesome time. Pastor Bishop works very hard to flip everyone, but he didn't get me. How, you ask? I rode with his wife & daughter; he doesn't flip them...yet.

By now you have probably noticed that I daydream pretty much anytime & anywhere. The lake is no different. Waiting my turn to ride the tube gave me time to just look at the wonder of God's creation. The lake (even though it is man-made), the trees, & the sky. Do you realize how amazing the sky is? I think it is one of the most beautiful things God creates for us. Every moment of every day the sky is different: the texture of the clouds & the color of the sky are changing constantly.

Next time you're out on the lake, ocean, or sitting along the banks of a creek, look around. While you are having fun, look around & enjoy the wonder of the creation that surrounds you.

take me out to the ballgame

Baseball: America's past-time & one of my favorite sports. I love watching baseball--it's entertaining at all levels: from tee-ball to the pros. I grew up with baseball, so I guess it's now wonder that I am constantly asking Jarid to take me out to the ball game.

Dad coached both Jarid & Craig at some point in their young baseball careers. Where could I be found? Not in the stands with the other mothers & daughters, no way! I was always sitting on the bench with a uniform of my own rooting on Daddy's team. Tee-ball & then high school games were exciting to watch because my brothers were playing (Craig is better at baseball than Jarid). But my love for baseball was much bigger than that.

I have & always will "root, root, root for the home team" my Kansas City Royals. I can remember going to Kauffman Stadium (the K) to watch George Brett play as young as 5. I know that the Royals aren't the greatest team in baseball, but I love them anyway. Our biggest claim to fame happened before I was born: defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series (my grandmother's house, which was about a mile from the stadium, caught fire during game 7 causing traffic from the game to be redirected--I guess that would be my families claim to fame. . .). In Kansas City we are also famous (rather infamous) for the "pine tar incident." Any top 50 moments in baseball that you watch inevitably shows George Brett charging from the bullpen onto the field in a fit of rage that cannot be matched. No matter what the stats say or how stupid a single player acts, the Royals are my #1 team.

The most awesome experience I have from baseball is meeting the legendary Buck O'Neal (who should be in the baseball hall of fame). Buck treated Crystal, Jarid, Craig, & I like his own grandchildren. When we hugged my grandmother, he made us give him a hug as well. I was so honored to meet on of the Kansas City Monarchs (KC Negro League baseball team). That afternoon I was able to walk around the Negro League Museum & read about KC's rich baseball history. I was in baseball heaven.

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So far this year I have visited the K three times: May 5th against the LA Angels, May 27th against the Minnesota Twins, & June 23 against the Colorado Rockies. Each time I have attended a game my seat buddies have been slightly different. The first game I went with Jarid & Travis; the second, Jarid, Lindsay, & Craig; & the third with Dad, Mom, & Crys. At each game I had a ton of fun cheering on my Royals & soaking in the life at the K: the new HD jumbo tron, the overpriced pop & nachos, the loud, screams & groans of fans, the crack of a baseball bat, Sluggerr, the T-shirt and hotdog launch, the hotdog races (Go Relish!), & singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

me & God

Did you know I'm indestructible? It's true. I am part of an unbeatable team: me & God.

Don't get me wrong, I have bad days--frequently. Usually my bad days can be traced to one thing: selfishness. Bad days start off when I choose to focus on self rather than the Saviour. Have you ever realized that simply being refreshed from the Word of God can change your outlook on the day? I would venture to say it's impossible not to find the God of the universe if you only look. The amazing thing--the God that crafted the universe, created the creatures of the earth, the perfect God wants to be intimately close to me.

I love Josh Turner's song, Me & God. The lyrics are relevant to humble Christianity.

• There ain't nothin' that can't be done by me & God. It's true! "If God be for us, who can be against us?" With God on my side I can do what seems impossible. A song that I have often heard sung by my church's choir says, "God can do what seems impossible. God controls eternity. My mind can never comprehend it, that God, in heaven, cares for me." That thought brings me to my knees--why would the God of all things want to use me? What have I done to deserve such a privilege? Nothing.
• Ain't nobody come between me & God. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded [beyond doubt], that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor [impending, threatening] things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The only person who can halt my relationship with God is me, when I choose to turn my back on Him. I know that I have stalled my relationship with my Saviour far too many times, yet He always openly receives me again & again.
• One day we'll live together where the angels trod... Wow! Can you even imagine that? One day you, me, & every other believer will be able to live with the God of the universe forever. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again, & receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). Christ comforted His disciples, & continues to comfort Christians today, with the fact that after a hard, nearly defeating life on earth, they would be able to live with Him forever in a perfect paradise.
• Early in the morning...late at night talkin' it over. Do you realize that we have a 100% all-access pass to the throne room of heaven? Humbling thought, isn't it? Throughout the Psalms, David and the other psalmists plead for the attention of God & are answered. The fact that I can talk to my God about anything is amazing to me. I can talk to Him about my struggles, weep for forgiveness, laugh in His joy, wonder at His power, and confide my deepest secrets in Him.
• I am weak & He is strong. Both at college & back home in KC I am privileged to work with 3-5 year-olds. One of the songs we sing is, "My God is so GREAT, so STRONG, & so MIGHTY there's nothing my God cannot do. The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the stars are His handiwork, too. My God is so GREAT, so STRONG, & so MIGHTY there's nothing my God cannot do, for you." I am constantly amazed with how much truth is packed into songs for young children. It's a good reminder to sing with them; it corrects my perspective--"I'm so weak, & He's so strong."
• He forgives me when I'm wrong. This one makes me stop in my tracks. I know myself better than anyone else. I know that I fail often & repeatedly, yet God forgives me when I ask. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This truth is not just for those accepting Christ's salvation for the first time, it is a promise for every sin that every child of Christ commits. Isn't that great?
• He's the One I lean on when life gets hard. God never promised His children an easy life, in fact, He promised just the opposite. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, & persecute you, & shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, & be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:" (Matthew 5:11-12). "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, & pray for them which despisefully use you, & persecute you: That ye may be the children of you Father which is in heaven:" (Matthew 5:44-45). My life verse promises that God works all the trials in my life for His glory: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
• He's my Father... when I accepted Christ as my saviour, I became a child of the King of Kings. Like my physical father, David Lawson, my God "will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory." My earthly father gives everything he has to ensure that I have what I need, & sometimes, to give me what I want. Whether it's working two jobs, cooking a great meal, or staying up until 1 am to pick me up from work, my daddy takes care of me. Yes, he has rules that I must follow: helping around the house, dressing modestly, dating rules...but my God is the same way. God has given me a Book filled with instruction on how to live a godly life. The cool thing? My earthly daddy has the same heavenly Daddy. In the end, their motives are the same. "For I know the thoughts & plans that I have for you, says the LORD, thoughts & plans for welfare & peace & not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP).
• He's my friend... Ron Hamilton would say, "Jesus sticks closer than a brother, on His love I can depend. I know He never will forsake me...King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Son--though all of these, He's my very best friend." Proverbs 18:24 says, "...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" that friend is Christ. He is my friend because of all of the things already listed: my Father, my protector, my support, & the one I can confide in.
• the beginning & the end... Christ said it Himself in Revelation 22:13--"I am Alpha & Omega, the beginning & the end." Why not trust, believe, & serve the God that has always been?
• He rules the world with a staff and rod. God is my shepherd. I love this analogy because sheep are one of my favorite animals. My middle name, Rachele, means "precious lamb." Yes, it's true that sheep are stupid and must be led to food & water & sometimes wander off into peril on their own accord. But as humans, we are very much like sheep. Psalm 37:23-24 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: & He delighteth in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand." God shows His children where to go, yet time & time again we wander away from the cool grass & refreshing spring because we think we know better.

I know this has been a long post, thanks for sticking in there. I just want to let you all know how great my God is. It's something that I never tire of talking about. Look out world, I'm going to accomplish great things 'cause my team consists of me and God.

reading rainbow

Come on, you know you watched the Reading Rainbow when you were little. And, now that I've mentioned it, the little jingle is stuck in your head, & remain there for the rest of the day. I guess that's what sparked reading for me--part of the song for the song says, "Butterfly in the sky, I can fly twice as high. Just take a look, it's in a book . . ."

I, unlike many of my college & high school friends, am still in school. No, I did not flunk a course, I chose to take a distance course from Maranatha to remain on schedule with my degree. The class: American Masterpieces. Rather than spend well over an hour writing a little about my favorite works so far, I'll resign to the method of Reading Rainbow by just suggesting that you choose some to read for yourself.

Some of the works I would suggest reading are:

• Ambrose Bierce: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge This man has talent! This is one I would highly encourage each of you to read. Bierce skillfully writes a story that you can see taking place as you read. I would tell you more, but that would ruin his talented ending . . .
• Anne Bradstreet: To My Dear Children
• Kate Chopin: Desiree's Baby--ending marked by cruel irony
• Emily Dickenson: her poems have a morbid tone, but they speak to the heart
• Benjamin Franklin: The Way to Wealth--I love Ben Franklin's wit
• Nathaniel Hawthorne: Like Poe, his works are timeless. My two favorites are The Birth-Mark & The Scarlett Letter
• W. D. Howells: Editha--military service means something special to me. Howells has the talent of capturing the differing views of civillians when young men enlist into the military.
• Washington Irving: Rip Van Winkle--Irving captures time with his lazy man, Rip Van Winkle
• Edgar Allen Poe: The Raven--I LOVE Poe's work. The Raven is my favorite poem of his, but I love most of his works.

My favorite work of the summer is the piece of science fiction that I chose for my literary analysis paper: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Bradbury excellently crafts metaphors throughout his work. Metaphors of fire & mirrors. The futuristic world that Bradbury creates is believable and the consequences of his illiterate society are plausable. I suppose the theme that drew me to Fahrenheit 451 is the same theme that Reading Rainbow sought to engrain in me as a child: knowledge is power.

The excerpts that I have read this summer have been a rainbow of different writing styles. I'm so glad that I enrolled in my summer course. American literature has a colorful array of writing styles, themes, & characters. I can't wait to find more works to add to my already colorful reading rainbow.

Go ahead, pick up a book and read. After all, knowledge is power.

i stand alone

Sometimes I feel as though I am standing alone. It's a selfish thought, as I always have friends & family who support me, but the thought does overtake me sometimes. This thought takes form in two ways: lonliness & defense of Christian principles.

My senior year of high school was hard. I chose to do the right thing & felt like Daniel: I stood alone. It was hard to look around & realize that classmates & friends didn't want to stand with me. Even good friends, who wanted to the right thing, would refuse to stand with me because they wanted to be liked by everyone else. I hold nothing against them--I've felt that way myself. Senior trip, I think, was the time where I looked up & said, "God, I stand alone. Does no one else love you?" That question has run though my mind constantly since then. It wasn't until a message sometime last semester that I realized that there are others who feel as though they, too, stand alone.

This summer I have selfishly thought that I stand alone. Not spiritually, but socially. It is not a secret that I do not have close friends my own age at home. Coming home ment I would be able to spend more time with my parents and siblings, but no hope for friends. Until recently, I was upset & chose to feel lonely. My college friends seemed to be having fun with friends from their hometown, my best friend announced her engagement, & my brothers were spending time with their friends. I was so disappointed about being seperated from my good college friends that I didn't notice the friends God has given me: my family, specifically my parents.

I was upset on Thursday because I was spending my day off by going to Craig's basketball game. I usually love watching Craig in his many sports, but because I felt that I stood alone, I was grumpy & annoyed. My parents kept asking me what I wanted to do--all I could think was, "nothing with you! I want to hang out with my friends, who aren't here!" I finally opened up to my dad. He said, "Life sucks sometimes. I know what you're going through. Mom & I don't have many friends either & our lives are consumed with you kids--& that's ok. You know you can always spend time with me & Mom." He got me to laugh; what he said was the truth & it made sense. That's when it hit me: my best friends have been in front of me the entire time. My parents give me everything--even their time--& I didn't want to spend a little of my free time with them. I have often run to my mom for advise, a hug, or some girl talk. Though we don't talk alot, my dad has always been a comfort to me right when I need it, especially recently. I don't stand alone; my parent have been, are, & will always be there for me.

I don't know what you're going through. But if you, like me, feel like you stand alone, look around, God has given you some amazing friends that will always be there for you. Friends who will stand with you when you choose to go against the grain & do the right thing. Friends who are there for you when your other friends are scattered across the country for the summer. I've said it often, but it's true: God is good. He knows that as humans, we need friends to surround us. Even if no one is physically there for you, remember, God is always standing at your side & you never have to say, "I stand alone."

i go back

Have you ever been so bored you looked back over old letters, e-mails, notes, & doodles? Every once in a while, usually when I am cleaning, I go back & look at things that I have written or have been written to me. I go back & see the progress I have made in spiritual & social growth. Yesterday was one of those mornings.

I was looking over old e-mails to & from a friend trying to find a quote to add to the blog. Being a avid lover of reading, I was reading every e-mail conversation. Reading brought back so many memories of this past year at college. Some were good, laugh out loud, memories, while others were thought provoking or sad.

I have been struggling lately with dreams. Sometimes, as I go back, I consider changing or giving up my dream because others have told me that the standard of my dreams makes achievement impossible. As I went back over the e-mails between my friend & I, I found the encouragement I needed from an e-mail that I wrote. It was funny, I was able to encourage myself with words that the Lord had given me to be an encouragement to a friend.

There are things in life I don't want to go back to: I don't wish to relive my childhood, I don't want to constantly return to sin, I don't even want to relive last year. I go back, not to relive moments gone by, but to remind myself & to learn from the past. As Chicken Little says, "Today is a new day;" why relive an old one? Yes, I go back, but in going back I am learning how to push forward.

over the rainbow

Yesterday held some pretty amazing surprises. What started out as a normal, semi-boring day at work turned into a masterpiece of God's handywork. It all started when my coworkers and I looked out over the rainbow.

Thunderstorms are no surprise in Kansas City. It began raining in the late afternoon & we didn't expect it to rain for long--boy were we wrong. Around 7 pm we were placed under a tornado warning, so security came to our office to watch the storm from a better vantage point. At about 8, the rain let up. We walked to the back door of the store to see the KC skyline only to find a rainbow...& its twin. The beauty of the rainbow was amazing, but our gaze was drawn over the rainbow--dark stormclouds loomed over downtown & we knew the worst was yet to come.

My two coworkers, the two security staff, & I were watching the storm when we saw a newer, darker cloud out on the horizon. This was no rain cloud; it was a giant plume of smoke rising above the treeline. We all ran to the tv in the back office to find out what was going on. A petrollium tank had been struck by lightning. 2.6 million gallons of gas had caught flame. Throughout the rest of the night we watched the thickening cloud of smoke. Just above the treeline we could see eruptions of flame--it was awesome!

Thankfully, there were no tornados spotted in our area last night & all of our guests made it safely to their rooms. My supervisor & I continued to watch the petrollium fire & the amazing lightning show outside. I don't think I have ever had a more exciting time at work: a double rainbow, amazing storms, & a gas fire...what a night!

The wonder & beauty of last night was still in my head as I read Psalm 46 this morning. I am continually amazed when I see my life & God's Word linked together--it is an amazing miracle to me. The first three verses of Psalm 46 caught my attention & reminded me of the God over the rainbow & behind the power of the fire & lightning: God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar & be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. For some of our guests, last night was frightening. One lady in particular came up to our office 3 times & called & talked to our manager for over an hour. In all the amazing wonder of last night, we had no need to fear. Psalm 46 reminded me that I have no need to fear fire or storm because my God is my protection & strength.

Dorothy may have found the magical land of Oz over the rainbow, but I have found a better treasure: the amazing, all-powerful God, the controller of the universe.