..Tam.Odom..

Today I’ve had a good day, but it has had some down moments. Things that I wished for throughout this day…

• I wish I didn’t have to get out of bed yet.
• I wish Joe didn’t have to leave today.
• I wish that my stomach would stop hurting.
• I wish I could get something done. 
• I wish that my Lady Bucs could get a win (or two). 
• I wish I knew how to love people well.
• I wish I could just got home and lay on the couch and watch One Tree Hill all night.
• I wish I had a boberry biscuit.

What have you wished for today? Have you every tracked it to see how many of those wishes actually came true? Start wishin’ now…

SUMMER IS JUST ‘ROUND THE CORNER.

What does that mean?

1. 40 hour work weeks!

2. Lots of TV time!

3. Beach days!

4. Summer Bucket List!

5. Regroup!

Have you ever been reading or playing a game to discover a word that you might have heard or seen before but you didn’t know the meaning of the word? This week the word ‘undaunted’ came up and I finally stopped to look into the meaning and usage of this word. 

I am doing a bible study on the book Undaunted by Christine Caine. Then take in different book, Love Does, by Bob Goff the story being told mentioned the character’s undaunted behavior. 

So what does ‘undaunted’ mean?

Well Google definition says the word is an adjective defined as “Not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger or disappointment.” 

Christine Caine’s book is Undaunted: Daring to Do What God is Calling You to Do. How many people are willing to just walk straight in to what God has in store for them without fear? She uses her story to show how the healing in her life allowed her to overcome the fear that she was unequipped and unwanted. 

What causes you to be intimidated? I know for me it is other people who are better at communicating. Intimidated that I don’t know everything I might need to know. Discouraged that not a lot of people showed up to an event. Scared of someone because they are popular and they might reject me. Wanting to be cool in everyone’s eyes. 

How many of those things are true? More than likely none of them are or should be real fears in my life. How do you overcome them? I think the answer is to increase your faith. Well then again I am one of those logical reasoners so my question then becomes – ok, how do I increase my faith?  Well, I believe it begins when you read the Bible searching for TRUTH. 

I like what Francis Chan says in the ‘How To Use This Book’ of Multiply. He says,”Studying the Bible is important, but the goal is never knowledge for the sake of knowledge.” He continues on to say, “You should be looking to change. Being a disciple of Jesus means that we are being transformed into His image.” Caine’s book begins with Psalm 139 about being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made…’ now just a fact, but a promise! That is what increases our faith…when we begin to believe what we know to be truth! 

Lord, I want to walk through life UNDAUNTED for the sake of your Kingdom and your GLORY! 

One of the things that I always get hung up on while planning the Elevate service order is how to make the transitions seamless and smooth. One suggestion that Matt Papa shared was when you don’t know what to say always revert back to reading scripture because scripture holds a message and tunes people’s hearts towards Him.

But another thing that usually draws people in are personal stories. I believe that some times when the Lord uses a song (melody) to capture your heart and teach you, encourage you, love you then you have to share that with others. One song that has been teaching me this week is Holy Spirit by Jesus Culture.

The chorus says, “Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your Glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your Presence Lord”

The bridge goes on to say, “ Let us become more aware of Your Presence
Let us experience the Glory of Your Goodness”

That has been what I have been trying to understand and cling to over the last couple of weeks is that I would live in such a way that I would plead for the Holy Spirit to come into this place. The place being my heart and my life. There are times when I’ve felt like I’ve stretched to say that the Holy Spirit was in something but I know that it was a lie. Because the times when the Holy Spirit was dwelling in the things I was doing (or joining) there was without a doubt a peace.

My prayer has become the two lines of the Bridge…Let me become more aware of your presence!

How about you? Do you have times when there was an overwhelming experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence?

 

I am too excited that my best friend and family are moving back to Charleston, SC. I repeat that they are coming HOME! I know right now people and players are uneasy about the new hire (the new head football coach), but I am just going to vouch now that you won’t be disappointed.

Coach Chadwell is one of the best Christian men who is a great coach! I am so excited to have him back in town and to see him excited and ready to build the community on campus through the game of football. God is going to be glorified and that excites me.

On top of all of that… I get my best friend back and Aunt Tam will be in full swing with my J-Bear and Princess Avery. I can’t wait to meet my newest niece who is one week old today!

Something hit me the other day…

When I jumped into my car the other morning and the windshield was a little foggy. I decided to pull out and turn the defrost on high to clear the view. Usually it isn’t too bad and by the time I can make the 200 yards to the front of the neighborhood it is usually cleared up and the vision is clear. But you know how when the windshield is foggy and you turn the defrost on high thinking it will help clear it up faster, but then it really just gets worse before it gets better? Well maybe it is just me, but the Holy Spirit revealed a connection to me about our actions and God’s vision.

Many times we try to make things happen faster by changing the temperature or the circumstances or we just try to push through and drive with our vision a little foggy. We take that risk that the few seconds we are driving with a foggy windshield that we are going to be fine and sometimes actually get ahead. When in reality the safest and wisest thing to do would be to just pull over for a minute and let things happen. God gives us a clear vision we just need to wait for him to defrost our hearts and mind to be able drive forward.

God definitely calls us to be radical and take risks, but when it comes to Vision (or Purpose) He doesn’t need us to take the wheel. Let Him drive. You just watch the road.

The song that I have been hooked on this week has been ‘Where You Go I Go’ by Jesus Culture featuring Kim Walker.

The lyrics go like this…

Where you go I go
What you say I say
What you pray I pray

Jesus only did, What he saw you do
He would only say, What he heard you speak
He would only move, When he felt you lead
Following your heart, Following your spirit

How could I expect to walk without you
When every move that Jesus made was in surrender
I would not begin to live without you
For you alone are worthy you are always good

Though the world seems to forget
We will not forget
Who you are and what you’ve done for us

You are my God

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/where_you_go_i_go_lyrics_kim_walker.htmlAll about Kim Walker: http://www.musictory.com/music/Kim+Walker

There are two reasons that I love this song. The first reason is that it teaches scripture. Jesus only knew what to do because he saw His Father in Heaven doing it. Then the full gospel is presented in this that it speaks truth of the presence of the Holy Spirit within Jesus, but also the same in us. The Spirit is ALIVE and moving us as clearly and often as we are still enough to feel Him.

The second reason is that it makes me more sensitive to try to acknowledge and live by the Spirit. It gives us words to live by according to our role model, Jesus. Then again, it is a display of what a godly role model looks like. I have become somewhat programmed to do the right thing because I work in Campus Ministries and because people have put that expectation on me. I want to go because God is going. I want to stay where the Lord wants to stay. I want to speak when the Lord would have me speak.

Someone said this week…”If you want to hear the voice of the Lord then open His “mouth.” (The Bible) I don’t know about you, but I want to hear God’s voice.

 

As I ran errands today and then lounged around the house with my roommate today…the last day of the year… I thought about how to recap the year of 2012!

I would have to say that the first thought that came to mind, ‘count your blessings’, was not a consistent thought throughout my year, sadly. Yet the final days of this year have really turned my focus to counting my blessings. I had the privilege to hang out with one of the most godly and gentle spirited women that I know from my past. I was overjoyed to spend a couple of hours just sitting and talking to her in Starbucks. Despite her circumstances, which are not very joyous one in the eyes of society, she taught me and challenged me to see things through a more focused lens. Thus…count your many blessings!

In order to put some kind of structure (you know I dig some structure) to the counting, I am going to take things month by month. The top 12 (or so) blessings of 2012!

January: 

 

Being able to experience PASSION 2012 with my kid, Carley!

Hanging out with these ladies at the CHOSEN conference at Seacoast. Thankful for friendships made at CSU.

Got to spend a lot of time with my girls during this month through hang out sessions over lunch, dinner and smoothies at Java City.

February:

Reunited with my friend Nicole Bromley. She was able to come and speak at CSU’s Chapel as well as keynote for the Women’s Conference. Nicole is one of my heroes. Every want to check out what she is doing to BREAK THE SILENCE…www.iamonevoice.com

March: 

Got a chance to meet Rachel Oliver, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, at CSU’s Body Image week! She inspired me from the show to get up and get active again.

My heart for these girls grew larger than I’d ever imaged.

The bond with these two rapidly grew as we shared a second annual Mission Trip during Spring Break to Orlando, Florida.

April:

I bought a house! Yes! I told myself while setting goals that once my Student Loans were paid off that I would begin to look for a house…SOLD!

May: 

The month of lunch dates.

June:

Lots of time spent in Mt. Pleasant (and more in the next month too!!)

July:

A Visit to Mississippi…to see my best friend and her family. 

A visit from my mom and two nephews. Spending time at the beach.  …and then I had my golden birthday! Turned 31 on the 31st.

August: Reunions are sweet and precious!

 

September: A tough month – moments of doubt, growth and waiting

October: Taking a break from Campus

spending time with Bethany and the ‘rents!

 

Friendships that never expire!

It is not a year without the Coastal Carolina Fair with friends (Roommate, Friend and Ministry Partner) – FRIED EVERYTHING!

November:

Pitstop on the way to Rome to reunite with this blessing, Rachel!!

Rome, Georgia!

Me and Miss Ella Mae!

Bumped into this guy… one of my favorite Coaches of all time! #feartheokra

Me and the sis on our exploring adventures.

Ok… So all roads DO lead to ROME! Went to see my brother bear, Corey, who just got a job at Shorter Univ. I had a blast exploring and spending time watching Corey in his new environment. I have been blessed over the years to be friends with him, work with him and now reconnect with him through the miles.

December: Family value increased!

 

Now… This is all fine and dandy to reflex on these blessings, but they don’t mean anything unless they become the foundation for the future of climbing out of valleys or standing taller to proclaim the mystery of the gospel of Christ (Ephesians 6:19). What blessings became the foundation for you to walk into 2013?

 

Of course every week I am taking photographs either with my Digital SLR Canon 50D or my iPhone 5. Picking ONE picture every week can be tough. Here is this week’s fave foto…

 

My favorite part about going home was probably getting to play in the yard with my niece and nephews with the tee and bat that I bought them. As things have transpired at home and become complicated my heart has been more open and compassionate towards spending more intentional time loving, teaching and giving to these lives.

Throwing it way back to when I first meet this little guy in 2003 and fell in love with my ‘bubba.’ I know that the girls are going to be all over my guy and I am NOT going to be okay with that. I need the female population to be aware and understanding of my standards for JD dating anyone. I promise to hurt anyone who is trying to play with my guys heart.

 

 

Love him forever.