It's a Wonderful Life

   

      Christmas is by far my absolutely favorite season. In one aspect, it's a time when people take a break from their hectic schedules and relive their childhood, if only for a few hours.  This is nothing like the adrenaline rush from tearing the paper off of a package and finally unveiling the gift that has been taunting you for weeks under the tree. Or maybe the best part is seeing the faces of your family members as they open the gift you agonized over and wrestled for in the insane mob of shoppers at the store. You realize your battle wounds are worth it when you see the sparkle in their eye or the smile that slowly forms across their face. On a less exaggerated-more serious note, Christmas is my favorite time because it is a celebration of a birth unlike any others that provides hope for all. It is in this season that we take time to remember the divine entrance of our savior into the world and marvel at the love and sovereignty of our Lord. We serve a God who brought his own son (perfect and sinless) into a dark, broken, and fallen world to die the most horrific and painful death so that we might be saved. Although society has made this a consumer-driven holiday filled with jolly Santas, reindeer, crowded shopping malls, and gifts, may we never forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
     
      Although this year has been different than most, here's a little glimpse of the wonderful Grubbs family Christmas. (You undoubtedly have much better things to do than read about my Christmas season so far, but humor me) Since I have been gone all semester, coming home for the Holiday's has been great and now that my sister is back it is kind of like old times. Today, my mother and I continued watching Hallmark movies while my sister did last minute shopping. As the evening rolled around, my father and I watched Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC and decided that like Bobby Ray with the christmas light sweater, we too shall accept the challenge to decorate our house next year so that the lights can be seen from outer space. Even if it meant adding 13 extra electrical circuits to our house. (Although my mom was not too keen on the idea). We continued the tradition of pizza bread for dinner while we watched It's A Wonderful Life and then opened the one gift set aside for Christmas eve. This year, my father talked non-stop about wanting a Christmas sweater. So, like any good daughter, I went to a second-hand store and found him the most unique one available. This particular gem was light gray with an attempt at black argyle on the front. As if the gift wasn't enough, I failed to read the words on the wrapping paper I used until after I put the bow on.  Instead of the traditional Merry Christmas etched across the package, it read "love is great happiness, love is eternal like the circle of a ring" I decided the wedding wrapping paper gave it additional pazazz. Thankfully tonight, my father thought it was hilarious and when he saw the sweater, he decided he was definitely wearing it tomorrow (even though it had to have formerly belonged to a chain smoker). He was a great sport about it and I reassured him the smoky smell made it more rustic. After everyone else went to bed, my father and I stayed up watching The Christmas Story, quoting the entire movie. I have to say, this has definitely been one of my favorite Christmas Eve's. As I reflect upon this past year, I am reminded how blessed I truly am and my heart is filled to the brim with joy and love for the Lord. How incredible, that despite my sarcasm, stubbornness, and pride, He loves me. That my friends, is the greatest gift of all.

Hipster Coffee

        Over the past few weeks, I have started a “Friday tradition” of sorts with a girl on my hall.  It began with a simple request to join her as she completed an assignment for a class.  This assignment involved critiquing a coffee shop (needless to say I needed no further persuasion).  We decided to visit a quaint coffee shop in the heart of downtown on a sunny afternoon in her car appropriately named Malibu Barbie. Upon opening the door of the shop, I first noticed the heavenly aroma of coffee beans and spiced teas that filled the air.  As I took in my surroundings, I realized that this was not a typical coffee shop.  I swear I thought we had walked into a magazine shoot for the cover of Urban Outfitters.  There were items from the junkyard placed sporadically along the walls and ceiling, antique tables and chairs were strewn about the floor, and the people were the definition of hipster (if such a thing exists).  Obviously, my Ann Taylor style stuck out like a sore thumb and as all 15 people turned in our direction, I immediately felt the sense that I didn’t exactly belong in this environment.  However, I am never one to turn down a challenge (or a good cup of coffee) and admittedly, I’m a little fascinated with hipsters.  So, as my friend Gina and I ordered, received our drinks in vintage china (what else) and settled ourselves in a corner table that provided a clear view of the room, the people watching began. 

          

          The best part of this trip though was the intentional conversations that ensued as we sipped our cups and took in the environment around us.  Gina, a divine blessing in my life, is the type of person that can make you laugh even on the hardest days yet also has depth in her relationships.  We both detest superficial conversations, and in no time, we dive into questions and issues we are struggling with and recounting the ways the Lord has been faithful in our lives already.  There is an openness and freeness in our conversation, and as we continue to talk, I began to wonder if the people around us (school, Birmingham, or the coffee shop) experience this same kind of friendship. I also began to wonder who around us was God calling us to be a light to amidst the events of our everyday life.

           

          As Gina and I continued our new tradition the next week, even though we got lost, we eventually stumbled upon this cute place called Paramount that we could not resist entering.  As we parked the car and walked across the street, we noticed the store looked completely empty and was closing in an hour.  However, we were not to be deterred and decided to go inside anyway.  After a few moments, a man emerged from the back and asked us what we would like.  After taking in the incredible menu, we settled on cupcakes and coffee and found a table in the empty room. Normally, I would have sat contently with my friend and not think twice about the worker, but this time, I was reminded of the verse I read in Colossians 4:5 that says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity”.  The owner was an outsider, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity so Gina and I began talking to him about the city, his life, and what we are planning on doing in our life.  It was neat to hear his story and what his ambitions are, and although we didn’t pull out pocket salvation track or recite the ABC’s of Christianity, I began to see that perhaps this is what we are called to do in everyday life: To simply look up and notice the people surrounding us, and take time getting to know them.  Maybe God will provide another opportunity for us to talk to this person or maybe he saw God’s love in our conversations that night.                                                                                                                                                                          

        I realized that we are called as the church to reach the people around us, but how can we do that if we fail to look outside of our bubble and meet the gazes of the men and women staring back at us.  We cannot reach the lost by merely staring into our coffee cups and thinking about the gospel, rather, we must live out the gospel and intentionally live our lives so that the Word has an impact on people. I am looking forward to spending time in other shops on the many Fridays to come making the most of the time and truly making an effort to get to know the people there. I believe the Lord can do something wonderful through these relationships, just as He can with any relationship.  So I leave you with a challenge, to not be afraid to step outside of your bubble and share life with the people God has placed in your path for the day.  Make the most of your time, and do not disregard the urgency of the gospel. 

Tis the Season

     In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would take a moment to pause and reflect on this past month and year.  Usually around Thanksgiving, my family and I load the car and make the several hour journey to Kentucky for the biggest feast of our life with my father's side of the family.  It usually involves watching the entire Macy's day parade, eating more food than seemingly possible, lots and lots of dessert, laughter, family games, and of course begging my mother to not make risk my life for the dangerous event called Black Friday Shopping. However, this year was different.  There was no trek to Kentucky on Thursday nor was there a carefree atmosphere in the air. In its place, was a quieter more simplistic holiday spent at home with my immediate family. The reason for the change was the death of my grandmother, Reba Grubbs, this past month. It is so true, that you never know how much someone meant to you until they are no longer here. I must say, I so oft took for granted the countless stories she would tell and her vast knowledge of the Bible.  Although I only saw her a few times a year, we would make the most of every second we spent together.  She would teach me how to cook and entrust me with her secret recipes. I am convinced there was not a single dish this woman was incapable of making. She also instilled in me the love for coffee. There was never a time of day the coffee pot was not hot, and I swear I never saw the bottom of my coffee cup, because she was always there to refill it. (I suppose she is partly to blame for my caffeine addiction). But of all of our memories, the ones I cherish the most were the many nights we spent together talking until the wee hours of the morning.  We would sit around the small table with our coffee cups in hand and the Bible on the table and I would sit and soak up every ounce of wisdom that flowed from her mouth. We would talk about Bible stories and how they applied to everyday life. She was the most selfless, servant hearted woman and her faith in the Lord could move mountains. While in town for the funeral, I came across some poems she had written right after her salvation and paintings she had finished and it amazed me how gifted she was. One poem in particular talked about her life apart from God, wandering and lost, but then the bliss and joy she found in Him. In the last stanza, she said she was ready to go home to her eternal dwelling with her Savior. With tears in my eyes, I smiled knowing that her wish had finally come true.  Although there is great loss in her death, I cannot help but celebrate the fact that she is now worshipping with the one she was created to be with. My only desire is to become a  granddaughter that she would be proud of, and not let her invaluable life lessons go to waste.

  

    This past year has also been a year of learning for me. It amazes me how much I have learned about myself being at college (admittedly not all have been good things). It is scary sometimes have fast life seems to pass by and I have realized the importance of every second I have been given. So often, I waste time worrying over minute details or things out of my control instead of looking at the world and people around me now.  I realize how blessed I am with the people that are in my life who continue to encourage and mold me. When I received the news about my grandmother, two sweet friends Maggie and Abby embraced me as tears flowed down my cheeks and prayed over my family in the middle of my dorm room. When I began to realize how self centered and narrow my view of life had become, I talked with an incredible sister in christ Jordan, who has a huge heart for ministry. As if life could not get better, I had the privilege of coming home and spending a few days having intentional conversations with close friends. Whether I was helping a friend pack for Texas, drinking incredible tea, or sitting at the familiar round tables of starbucks with a peppermint mocha in hand catching up on life, I saw the beauty and gift of friendships. Today, as I sat with Ashley and talked about life, it was comforting to know that although neither of us have certainly about the next several years of our lives, the Lord does.  I told God I would live in a state out west, go to seminary, more oversees, or do whatever He wanted.  Truly the sky is the limit for my future, and as precarious as it sounds, I am excited.

   So as I spend the next month listening to Frank Sinatra's serenading Christmas music, enjoy the toasty fires and sparkling lights on the Christmas tree, and the infectious joy of this beautiful season, I want to take each day and live it as if it might be my last.  I do not want to waste more time contemplating or planning my future, rather; I want to love those around me, worship the Lord, and serve Him in whatever capacity that may be.

As Iron Sharpens Iron...

            

           I truly did have the best intentions to escape from the hectic occurrences that consumed my life the past few weeks to blog, but to no avail. But, as one of my favorite quotes so wonderfully puts it, “The best laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry”.   (In actuality, this quote is the implied title of the book Of Mice and Men but it originally  comes from a Robert Burns Poem To a Mouse, that says “The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
 Gang aft agley” ok enough literature trivia) Anyway, I truly cannot put into words the full extent to which the Lord has been at work in my life, or recount all of his merciful blessings, but with the next few minutes of my time, I shall certainly try.

           

            First and foremost, I have come to understand more fully the wonderful blessing of friendships.  I am so blessed to have numerous people in my life that constantly remind my of the goodness of God, hold me accountable in my actions, and pray with me over specific areas of my life.  Its funny, as I moved yet again to a new state (but this time completely on my own) I wondered how I would keep up existing friendships and also establish new ones.  One such relationship is with a dear woman of God named Evie.  You know how there are certain people you can just sense the very presence and joy of the Lord when you are around them, well, she is certainly that person.  Its crazy to think that I have only known her for not quite a year because I feel like we have been lifelong friends. She is the kind of person I know God is going to use in mighty ways, and I truly cannot wait to see how all of that unfolds. Anyway, over the past few months, the two of us have kept in contact via email.  In these messages, we have poured out our struggles, our praises, and our prayer requests to one another and encouraged each other by showing how the Lord is so greatly at work in our life.  Sometimes, I wonder if this is what Paul must have felt like as he wrote to the Corinthians and told of the wonderful work of the Lord and encouraged them greatly in their faith.  Because that is precisely what these messages do for me.  God has also given me wonderful friends at Union that I could truly write a novel on.  They are some of the best people on the planet.  They make me smile and laugh the entire time we are together, but they are people I can call at any time and just talk to about life.  We share a common addiction to coffee that inevitably draws us each to the tables of starbucks where we share life together.  (I really think if Starbucks were wise, they would use us in a commercial or advertisement: Starbucks, bringing people together one coffee cup at a time. ok that might be a little conceited.)  I talk about these beautiful people all the time at college and although I cannot see them as much as Id like, I am forever grateful for their presence and friendship in my life. Since I have written a previous entry about the people God has brought into my life at Samford, Ill try not to repeat it all. But it is so neat to me how friendships form, how God places certain people in your path to encourage you and challenge you for that day.  Its funny to me that although we have one of the smallest rooms on our hall, it always seems to be filled with people.  On nights like tonight, I am so thankful to live on a hall with such wonderful girls.  My roommate and I joked that we should play a game to guess who might be knocking on the door or how many people might come in. Tonight’s total: Seven (7 awesome people that provided the best distraction to my Spanish homework). This is truly my favorite time of the day.  Its neat to see who will walk in our humble abode and what conversations will ensue.  Last night, I had a lovely 2 hour conversation with my neighbor about God’s awesome plan for our future, relationships, and what God is teaching us in our life, and it all started with a simple request to borrow a season of our Friends DVD. Tonight was a lovely mix of people coming in to cheer for the Cardinals (or Rangers in some cases), to ask questions about classes, to randomly pop in and visit, and to share how God had answered prayer.  Its these very nights that continue to confirm why I am at Samford, as I drift off to sleep with my heart overflowing with encouragement and joy. As cheesy as it sounds, we are a community that shares life together (the good times and hard times) and I am loving every minute of it.  I have decided if God ever gives me a chance to write a book, Ill include all of these wonderful people in it.

           

            Secondly, I am realizing what it means to Abide in Christ. In church Sunday Morning, Pastor Platt mentioned a verse that resonated with him this past week as he experienced hardships that says “Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now, abide in me”. So often I just read the first part of that verse.  And although it is so important to realize the depth of the father’s love, I have come to see the equal importance on the second part, that we must come to the throne boldly, not lacking confidence, and abide in the Lord.  How awesome it is so to know we serve a God who not only loves us, but truly wants to spend time with us.

            Lastly, (and then I promise to end this ridiculously long blog) God has shown me the beauty and purpose of singleness. You know how it is often said that marriages are a picture of the Love of Christ to his bride (the church..aka US). I agree with that 100 %, but God also revealed to me that it is also symbolic in our singleness. As a Christian, we are called to prepare ourselves daily, sacrificing our desires for those of God's, and it may mean walking in times of extreme loneliness as we leave as foreigners to the things of the world.  For God never promised it to be easy. But we are called to live intentionally and seek the plans of the Lord (not sitting idly)  until the second coming of our Bridegroom when we are called into heaven (what a glorious day that will be). In the same way, as a single girl, I am supposed to prepare myself for my future groom that will be brought into my life when the Lord (in his perfect timing) decides it.  I am not supposed to sit idly waiting for a man to waltz into my life or try and take matters into my own hands, but I am supposed to use this time and season to follow boldly after the Lord with every fiber of my being to work according to his purpose. I need to be so caught up in following him and making his glory and love known that when He places a guy into my life, it is someone that will serve as a partner and that will come alongside me. Not someone I have to constantly be on the lookout for. Im sorry this sounds like an excerpt from a singles book, that’s not my intent really.  I truly was just encouraged by this observation and it seemed like a good thing to share. As I have discussed this concept with several people, it has been interesting to see that they are learning the same things.  I truly am amazed at the way in which God has placed people into my life that have sharpened my faith, and it is my prayer that I can do the same for others.  Until next time. 

Kindred Spirits and A New Chapter

     I truly am in awe of the graciousness of God and the wonderful ways He is at work in my life. I cannot believe I have now been at college a week, yet the relationships that have developed and the memories already made make it seem as if it has been so much longer. I must admit, the precise moment I bid farewell to my parents after our prayer together, I grew increasingly apprehensive about the days to come.  It seemed impossible that my life could get any better than it already has been.  I have the most wonderful friends, family, and life back home and I truly could not imagine anything better awaiting me at Samford, but boy was I wrong. Before I continue, I must make clear that nothing can replace my wonderful life back home and I still miss my incredible friends dearly.  There is not a moment that goes by that I don’t thank God for the people He has already placed into my life, and I am exceedingly grateful. Being at Samford has in no way replaced my old life, it has truly just enhanced it.  It amazes me how God continues to use my closest friends and family to encourage and pray for me about issues, and then answers the prayers here at Samford.  How wonderful that we serve a God with no geographical limitations or boundaries!

     I truly do not know where to begin in this blog but to recount a miniscule portion of the wonderful blessings God has brought into my life the past seven days. He has placed some incredibly Godly, wise, and encouraging girls into my life in the most random ways.  The best way I can tell of this blessing is through a feeble attempt at illustrating how I met two specific Godly women here on campus, Jordan and Tabitha.  I actually met Jordan several months ago at scholar weekends and we shared this instant connection although we saw each other sporadically.  At connections, our first weekend on campus, we were divided into groups.  By some divine act, Jordan was placed in my group along with Tabitha, a beautiful girl with a gentle spirit.  As the three of us got to know each other, we realized we each felt a passion for girls and a calling into the ministry in some capacity.  It amazed me as I listened to these two ladies before me share their heart for ministering to the girls around us, and sensing their immense desire to seek the Lord and serve Him wherever He called.  We truly are kindred spirits. It has been incredible to see God shine through these two and his love evident in everything that they do.  It has been a beautiful thing to pray with them about issues we are facing, share what God is teaching us, and form an accountability group so we can grow together putting Christ first in our friendship as we seek God’s plan for us for the next four years on campus.  It reminds me of the relationship depicted in Acts between Paul and Silas, and how God used these two men to spread the gospel and His love. 

  Not only has God placed Tabitha and Jordan into my life, but He truly has blessed me with the most amazing, almost unbelievably close hall in the dorm.  It really is somewhat bizarre how close we each are and the bond that we share.  Every single girl encourages me daily by her love and devotion to the Lord, and they each bring joy into my life.  We truly are a community.  Every day, it seems another girl is ‘adopted’ into our hall and joins us to share life together.  I truly believe God is about to do something huge here.  I cannot fathom what it is or when it will take place, but I know that God is up to something.  It’s this feeling that cannot be shaken and is intensified daily by every conversation I have.  Multiple girls are experiencing the same sense that something big is about to take place and although we cannot put our finger on it, all we can do is pray and wait for the Lord to reveal it to us.  I am so excited about whatever it is that God is up to!!

   Although I miss a lot of people dearly, especially my awesome family, I know that God truly does have a purpose for me here at campus and I am so excited to see how He is going to use this people in my life now! He has replaced my anxiousness with peace that surpasses all understanding, and He has shown me what it means to depend completely on Him and his sustaining Love and mercy. My prayer is that I will continue to seek Him in the place where His glory dwells and that I will humbly submit myself to the plans He has for my life. Lord, may the desires of my heart align with yours.  I want what you want for me. For ‘your ways, Oh Lord, are holy. What god is so great as our God?’