Monday Matters: Angie Wright

It's a rare thing when a teacher can connect with students. And I mean really connect. The kind of class where every student feels like they could really be vulnerable and challenged. Angie is like that. 

She cares about her students and she wants to see them seek the Lord. She wants them to be passionate about what He has called them to do and she wants them to walk in power, love and a sound mind. Because this is the life we have in Him. A full life.

So grab a drink and enjoy a few words from Angie today :)

love it!

GOGEOUS!!!!

Angie, thank you for loving the Lord and for challenging me to seek Him in His Word. You have truly blessed my life and I am so thankful for you!

I love, love, LOVE my job!  Teaching at SBU is a true joy for so many reasons, but one of the main reasons I love it so much is because of students like Jordan.  It is amazing to have students who love and serve the Lord!  Jordan, I love how you use your gifts and talents for His glory!  I loved having you in class and am excited to see His plans for you! :)

Challenges… we all have them… and we can choose to face them confidently in our Savior’s strength and direction or we can choose to grumble about them and try to take them on ourselves.  My choice is the first one… to face them with peace and wisdom that can only come from my Savior {And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7}.  Now let’s be real… this is easier said than done.  But through practicing His presence and allowing him to control our lives, it is definitely possible.

What type of challenges have you faced this year?  We face challenges daily – and yes, some are more major than others.  

My biggest challenge the past year has been centered around working on my PhD.  I worry a lot.  I didn’t realize how much I worry {and how worthless it is} until I led a Bible study with a group of my female students called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.  I HIGHLY recommend this book/study!  

The craziest thing is that when I started thinking about what I worry about in life {PhD, work, family, etc.}, I realized that most of it never happens or already happened.  So I started asking myself: Why worry about things that might not even happen and why worry/dwell on things that are in the past?!  The answer: I shouldn’t and am going to strive not to from now on {Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6}.  

God has worked in me tremendously this past year.  Through His Word, prayer, Calm My Anxious Heart, and my parents, He is teaching me to be content.  Notice I used the word teaching – it doesn’t come over night.  He is teaching me that contentment is a choice…

Aren’t those great?  I want to choose to see stars not mud. :)

My parents are by far the biggest spiritual mentors in my life.  Their love for God, each other, me, and others is amazing and unlike anything I have ever seen.  A couple of weeks ago, I was really anxious about a few things.  My dad sent me this text {he knew exactly what I needed to be reminded of}…

I am so thankful for my heavenly Father and my earthly parents.  I am excited to see what God has planned for me now.  I am trying to live in the now and to live with an eternal perspective.  I don’t want to live with the mindset “after my PhD”.  If I choose to live in milestones, I will miss what God has for me now.

There are two final things I want to share with you all from Calm My Anxious Heart.  I have these photos saved on my phone and read them constantly.

Isn't that amazing?  

---being content in how He chose to make me---

¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16 

I also love this “prescription for contentment”…

We can have contentment, but only in Him.  It is not always easy to deny our flesh, but true peace comes from living by the Spirit. I am so thankful for His peace and love.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6 

Thanks again, Jordan for having me on your blog and photographing me!  It was so much fun.  Blessings!

Monday Matters: Jenna Renae

I opened my windows this morning to let the cool air flow through my house and I listened to the birds singing from the trees. I sipped on my frappe and read as the silence surrounded me... "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

My mother-in-law prayed this verse for me as I was preparing for El Salvador. And God has spoken to me through this verse in ways that I can't really describe. Because there are so many times that I think my weakness is too much... too much for Him to overcome. And this beautiful Word of His calls out that lie in my life. And because of who He is, I can live life fully. && He is powerful in my weaknesses. He is powerful in my life.

God has challenged me to dream... to look into the depths of my heart and understand what I long for. && He has challenged me to ask this question of others. Because it's good for us to dream... and to let Him be very big in our lives.

Jenna wants to change the world. && as she continues on this journey she wants to touch the lives of children who don't have very much. When I asked her what she wanted to do with our camera time she said that she wanted to do a shoot that would inspire people to buy a pair of Toms. And I smiled. Because Jenna is really beautiful.

You can head on over to the TOMS website to order a pair of shoes (click HERE).

"because you may be giving a pair of shoes to a child who has never had shoes before." -Jenna

Monday Matters: Katie Ware

I was just finishing up my freshman year in high school and we were staying in the lower level of a Church in Boulder, Colorado. To say that I was nervous about this mission trip is a bit of an understatement, but the upperclassmen wouldn't have that. They made room for my sleeping bag in the messy Sunday School room by pushing the toys against the wall. They asked questions about my life and let me hear about their own. Katie was in this welcoming group and her kindness was so inviting. She could make the whole room smile and laugh while making each person feel so incredibly special. And I have been blessed by her ever since. 

Katie recently spent 5 days in Haiti making a bride smile, telling children Bible stories, distributing medical treatment for babies and expecting mothers and evangelizing to the people in Haiti. Katie made such a huge impact in the lives that she met, but the story that melts my heart the most is hearing about how she gave her wedding dress to a woman in the village. 

Meet Katie.

Immediately upon arriving in Haiti, your heart just breaks for the people you see. It’s hard to imagine living in the conditions they are so accustomed to. Chickens, pigs, and dogs running around searching for food. Trash lining the streets, buildings, and houses and overfilling the few dumpsters. Women and children bathing by the side of their tent. The smells, the noises, the damage…it’s the most humbling and eye-opening experience. As an American, I’m so rich and spoiled. My basic needs are met each day without a second thought – plus numerous wants. Can I imagine living any other way? 

After a few days, I honestly didn’t want to come back! It’s hard to leave new friends and people that need 

Christ. I hope to go back and give even more. 

I’ll never forget the butterfly feeling when I met the bride that would be wearing my dress. Even though I know it’s not comparable, I think I grasped a fraction of what God feels when we glorify Him straight from our heart. PURE JOY. Satisfaction. Contentment. For that moment, I knew there was no better place in the world I could be. I wanted to give that girl everything. I wanted her to be the most beautiful and happiest person she’d ever been on this one special day. I had to tell her my story, so I wrote it on paper and had it translated to Creole. I told her that I was supposed to be married last year, but it didn’t work out and God told me it wasn’t right. I wanted some special girl that needed a dress to have mine and be blessed in her marriage by God. I told her I was here just for her! We hugged and she shared my story with her husband. They were so grateful – and her husband’s friends all said he was lucky to have the most beautiful bride of them all. Never underestimate God’s plan – it ALWAYS outlasts our own. 

Everyone has a story – pray about how He can use yours. We’re called to be open and encourage each other in our faith (James 5:16). Go. Give. Guide. He can turn your biggest ‘bad’ into the biggest blessing. 

If you want to get involved look for Joy House group on Facebook (click HERE). Feel free to reach out to me as well via email (katie.ware@accenture.com) if you have any questions or want to donate to the cause. There are medical, construction, and financial needs outside of the marriage ministry!