Southern Comfort

Howdy!

Just finished spending 3 days with my bestie, LMS. We've known each other since 6th grade, but don't get to see each other nearly enough due to school/jobs/living in different cities.  Our reunions are always perfectly ridiculous, full of laughs, and including lots of food.

This time we made a delicious southern meal.  Pulled chicken barbeque, homemade mac&cheese, fresh corn on the cob from the farmer's market, and peach cobbler.  It was awesome. We ate so much we were sick.  And this is why we could never live together.

Then, last night, we went to see "Something Borrowed" at the $1.50. I don't think I've ever spent that little money on something and felt like I wasted it.  I was worried that it was going to be all mushy-gushy, which I hate, but I honestly think I would rather watch "The Notebook" 50 times in a row, than see that movie again.  By the time we left, we were both so agitated that we didn't speak the whole way home, except to sigh angrily and mutter "I don't even... a waste of a dollar...what the heck?!?!?"  

It's only redeeming features were the hotness of the cast and the awesome scene where Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin dance to "Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa.  Perfect flashback moment for LMS and I, who used to break it down to "Thriller" back in the day. 

 I also bought this nail polish by essie in "master plan", which I think is just gray, but LMS assures me chic and trendy. 

So all in all, a great couple days. Sad to see her go, but definitely time to get back to work. :)     What have y'all been up to?  Plans for the 4th?

 

More about Me

 

from PostSecret

• We called one of my friends "Big B" but I was informed that I couldn't be "Big J" because that was Jesus' nickname.  Hence the name of my blog. 

• I minored in Wildlife Science at State. It was pretty much me, two pre-vet kids, and a pack of rednecks who talked about shootin' white-tails.  But you know what? Those were my favorite classes and the nicest classmates that I ever had in college.

 

• I took a semester off my sophomore year to work with wild horses at the beach. I got to drive ATV's, ride in boats, and research horses.  It was pretty much my dream job.

 

• I grew up in suburbia and now live in a big city (for North Carolina), but I secretly think I'd love to settle in a small town. There's just something about running into someone you know at the post office that makes me happy inside.

 

• I became a believer my junior year of college.

 

• I took German in high school instead of Spanish, because I was trying to be unique.  It led to some cool experiences (an exchange trip to the motherland) and meeting some iiiiiiinteresting people.

 

•  I don't really like kids (besides my cousins Ava, Hannah, Sydney, and Jaxon). Children usually make me feel awkward and I never know what to say to them, but I still want to have my own someday.

 

• I met my best friend in 6th grade because we had matching lunchboxes. 

 

• I love that card from this week's post secret, because I prayed that same prayer when I was 20 years old.  and you know what? He did.

Clean Freak

bahahahaha.

 if you've ever wondered why i am such a psychotic cleaner, now you know.

and what is up with my granny nightgown?

i know my roomies would appreciate this pic. they've had to tolerate me being a total witch-with-a-b when it comes to the cleanliness of the apt. 

Weekend Update with Seth Meyers...or little J

 

Happy Weekend Everybody!

This week was crazy busy, with lots of ups and downs.

• Singing "Rolling in the Deep" repeatedly at the top of my lungs with my chissy.  
• Not so good, my stepbrother-to-be now hates that song. Sorry Adele, we just cost you a fan.
• Lots of support appointments/ contacts in the next couple weeks.
• THIS hilarious blog. Maybe I'll try out a picture post some time.  What is something y'all would like to hear about me via picture?
• Oliver (my car) getting sick and having to get a new starter. :(
• Said starter costing over 200 Washingtons.
• Seeing the cute mechanic who always works on Oliver.
• Getting lost in Asheville while driving my dad's truck.  Let me tell you, it's rough weaving in and out of hipsters on fixed gears when you're driving a huge stick-shift F150.
• MY BESTIE IS COMING TO VISIT NEXT WEEK! Hopefully, pics to come.

Anything cool going on with you guys?

 

A Safe Place

Sorry for the delay, sweet readers.  Things have been busy with multiple family holidays, lots of high school ministry events, and, of course, support.   Generally, I enjoy being busy.  I hate sitting around the house watching reruns of Sex in the City in my pajamas. 

Fine, I don’t really hate it, but I do feel bad about myself afterwards. 

Yesterday, in the hectic mess of traveling, cleaning, and meetings, I had my weekly meeting with my support raising coach.

“How’s your relationship with the Lord going?”, Coach D asked (I don’t really call him that, in case you were wondering).

“Well, I feel like reading my Bible is the only time that I get to be quiet.  It’s my safe place.”

Although that thought had been bouncing around in my head for a couple weeks, that was the first time I had said it out loud.  With all the changes going on this summer: graduating from college, moving out of my apartment, and moving to Sweden for a year, my emotions are a constant roller coaster.  Sometimes I’m excited, but a lot of the time, I feel a lot of fear, some anxiety, and even a little anger.  

However, when I sit down to pray, read my Bible, or journal, I feel a kind of peace.  I can feel God saying,

“Come sit with me for a while, little J.  Let me tell you why it’s gonna be alright.” 

That’s why one of the analogies the Bible uses to explain God to us is that of God the Father. 

Yes, He is a creator, the savior, and a righteous judge. But He’s also a father.  One who delights in spending time with me.  One who says, “Let Me hold you for a while, little J.  I want to take care of you.”

That’s pretty sweet.

If you're bored, read this, by Jamie the Very Worst Missionary. I thought it was great.

Agape Sverige

How many of you know anything at all about Sweden? I'll give you a hint.  It is NOT the same as Switzerland.  Any yes, it is sometimes very COLD.

Anything else?

Anyone?

What about IKEA?  

H&M?  

Absolut Vodka?  

ahhh...some of you are with me now.

I'm not judging you guys.  Ok, at least not a lot.   A little over a year ago, I didn't know anything about Sweden either. 

A couple random facts:

1. less than 2% of Swedes are practicing Christians
2. all employees (including grad students) get 5 weeks of paid vacation per year
3. the sun rises at 3:30 am in the summer
4. 8 in 10 Swedes is a member of the Church of Sweden
5. Howeva, only 1 in 10 think religion is an important part of everyday life

In this article, I learned that Swedes value "frankness, tolerance, trust, and respect for other people"which they haven't found in modern religion.


So why, if 80% of the population are "Christian", aren't they finding these things?  Has anyone here read the Bible? I'm pretty sure Jesus has a lot to say about  "frankness, tolerance, trust, and respect for other people".   What are we, the body of Christ, doing that is portraying Christianity as antithetical (is that a word?) to those values?

God has broken my heart for these sweet, lost people.  Please join me in praying for them. 

Pray for me and the team of believers who are serving there. Pray that we will speak boldly and with Biblical truth.  Pray that we will demonstrate "frankness, tolerance, trust, and respect for other people" through our love for Jesus Christ. 

Most of all, pray that the Swedes will find the greatest joy of all (not paying your taxes on your cell phone, which they can do there), but having a relationship with a loving, just, powerful, holy, sympathetic, and self-sacrificing God.

Thank you!

A Moment of Zen

Hullo readers

...and by readers I mean the 4 poor people who I've forced into reading my blog by bullying, guilt, and blood relation...


Life's been stressful lately. As it turns out, raising enough money to be a missionary in a foreign country for one year isn't easy... 


Additionally, God has taken this opportunity to teach me stuff about patience, forgiveness, and faith. 


Geez God, cut me a break, plx. 


So I wanted to take half an hour to take a break from life and give you a few gems that might make you smile. 


Here they is:

Our view in Aruba

"I've never had a plant before. I'm afraid I'll kill it."

-My darling friend AB who OWNS HER OWN BABYSITTING BUSINESS and is worried about taking care of a houseplant 

"I just looked at him. I couldn't believe it.  I was about to get a lecture on tithing from a guy who probably subscribed to 'Bikes and Babes' Magazine."

-Donald Miller "Blue Like Jazz"

Jon Acuff's theory that David Crowder Band is breaking up to secretly join Hillsong 

seriously though, how many people are in Hillsong? i swear they have a new lead singer for every song. why can Christian bands do that, but not secular ones? You know nobody listened to Journey after Steve Perry quit.

  The iguanas that we knocked out of the tree while playing volleyball




 

 "But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

Luke 10:41-2

 

"The artist who painted this picture was a huge fan of Jennifer Love Hewitt. I mean, I like the girl, but only because I'm Jesus. I'm not a huge fan of her acting. And... it's not like I've ever dreamed about looking like her."  -Jesus

taken from : Jesus Needs New PR

"Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me" Psalm 56:1 (NIV)

 

 

love y'all. buh-bye.

I'm addicted and I just can't get enough...

Ladies and Gents...  

Summertime is finally here!

Summer is my fav season, and I have, for sure, been enjoying the best things about summertime: tank tops, sun-tanning, country music, swimming pools, curly hair, and constantly shaved legs (yeah, i'm a little lazy in the winter time).

This is what I'm lovin' right now:

It smells good and is 92% biodegradable! For those of you who don't know about my borderline-institutionalizable cleaning habits, it is a BIG deal for me to buy organic cleaning products.  I'm an environmentalist, but if that mess doesn't have laboratory strength detergents in it, I ain't using it to clean myself/my house.

“You gotta GTL every day to make sure you’re looking your best, bro. If your shirt looks bad, it makes the whole product look bad.”  

-Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes..."

Romans 1:16

 

 Snorkling in Arubs!

 

Ross: I think when someone steals your credit card, they've kind of already thrown caution to the wind.

Chandler: Wow, what a geek. They spent $69.95 on a Wonder Mop.

Monica: That was me.

 

 

Over and out kids; it's bed time.

Time Zones

Lately, I've been thinking about time. 

It's a funny thing. Sometimes 
it 
drags
by
so 
slowly.

Sometimes, itgoesbysofast. 
For instance, it doesn't seem like it's been 4 years since this:

 Little freshmen tailgating at a football game, still full of dreams about med school and vet school.  Alumni Jasmine and Jaclyn laugh in your little 18 year old faces.
 
    So today, I was thinking about what time feels like to God.  During the Spring of '10, which was probably my unhappiest semester of college, did time seem to go by slowly to Him? Or was it going by quickly, because He knew things were going to get better soon? 
Right now things are kind of weird for me.  I am super stoked about going to Sweden; however, I can't see anything beyond getting on that plane in August.  As a superdupercontrolfreak that's pretty hard for me. 
  So I am learning a little about faith. Sure, I don't know what will happen during/after Sweden.  Sure, I don't understand a lot of things God's doing.  Howevs, I know what God's done for me in the past.  I've been in some sucky situations that God has brought good things out of.  Sometimes it took me time to be able to see it, but He always does. 

 
 I'm learning guys, slowly but surely. :)