One Year Blog-Aversary

As I eagerly await my chocolate chip pumpkin (gluten/dairy free) I thought I would give a brief update of life at C2K.

The last twenty-two days have been a whirlwind of relationship building, cleaning, studying, praying, crying, laughing, work, and just general moving. Like any normal move I still have things I need like a few chairs, a couch, maybe a dresser and bookcase, but those things aside I have truly been blessed. I love the work I have begun at C2K, as I begin stacking a history of our organization I find myself becoming more excited about the work we do in the community. It’s eye opening to trace something from its origin, to the point it enters your life, and I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything.

The last few weeks I have met some of the most amazing people, that I proud to say I get to do life with moving forward. When people ask me about my move to Oak Cliff and Tyler Street UMC I can not help but talk about how amazing everyone from the staff to the congregation has been. Its hard to find congregations that are full of families these days, but Tyler Street has grasped this concept and hasn’t let go. This sense of excitement probably comes from the geographic distance between my mom’s side of the family in Georgia, and my dad’s side of the family in West Virginia: alternatively the excitement might be found in the Trans-American lifestyle I have lived over the last nineteen years, knowing I could probably live here in Oak Cliff for a long time.

… Yes I said I could settle down here for a while.
Yes, the girl that moved to Georgia for the summer, just said she could sit still for a few years.

This feeling of course comes with a since of concern, as to keep myself in the present and stay grounded, but this concern is over ridden by the overwhelming knowledge that I am where God wants me presently.

So presently I will continue to do life with my awesome new boss, my current boss, and coworkers, as well as explore the area of Oak Cliff.
If you have read my blog over the last year (One year officially today), you know that I am a bit of a foodie, so here is a picture of the amazing lunch I had with some amazing ladies of TSUMC today.

(See mom I am eating well)

Anyway, that is how life is working presently. It feels like a l0ng way from where I was a year ago, as I sat in Bridwell Library reflecting on my desires to obtain a BA in Politics Philosophy and Economics. It is absurd to look back at the last year and say that I am the same person I was back then. I have seen and done so many new things since, that I know would not have happened, had I not surrendered to Christ. He has been so gracious, and encouraging “every bump of the way”, that I can’t imaging doing life any other way. So to leave the way this all started a year ago I will answer the question I posed back then: It is well with my soul.

How is it with your Soul?
Let me know.

Much Love,

Macy

The Coming Days

This weekend I was blessed with the experience of working with some of the most amazing pastors and children’s ministers in the NTCUMC as I watched 130 kids learn about the Bible and grow excited about exploring God’s work as they grow up. This weekend was a much needed break from city life as I prepare for the coming months.

Lets take a little trip back in time to the beginning of July 2010. I had just finished my freshman year of high school and was looking forward to the continued adventures of high school along side my best friends. I went on a mission trip to a weird state called Texas from the beautiful state of Arkansas, and though I had taken a similar trip to Houston the summer before, I was nervous to return to this flat and hot land.

Accompanied by my two best friends Henry and Michala, my mom, and youth director Michelle, and the ever so wise seniors Kevin, Jordan, and Kristen I knew we would have an entertaining trip to C2K housed in the heart of what I called Dallas. Looking back its easy to see exactly what God had in store for me.

Keep in mind The Move 2010, jump forward a year to the week of July 4th, 2011 I returned to C2K having lived in McKinney for about four months, Dallas was still a weird land of unfamiliar views and endless opportunities. This time I was accompanied by a much larger and more diverse group of students and adults, but providing me with the chance to explore my interest in leadership and missions.

Once I got settled into my new Texas life and The Move 2010 faded away, I began picking up activities I enjoyed in Arkansas such as CCYM and realized that I was constantly being pulled to the C2K facility and what I came to know as the Oak Cliff area. I graduated and C2K flew off my radar, as college and work began to occupy my mind. Working for the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church as an intern I have run into councilors, facility manager, employees, volunteers, etc., from my time volunteering and I always thought I was totally normal because the United Methodist Church is so connected. This summer after an unexpected meeting my dad and Jamie Nelson, the current C2K coordinator had a long discussion about the growth of this organization and the impact she wants it to continue to make on the community.

Tomorrow I obtain keys to an apartment in Oak Cliff. Tomorrow lines that God has been tracing out for me over the course of the last four years will be connected, and I will move one step closer to something bigger than myself.

As the last few weeks have unfolded and I have shared this exciting opportunity with others, it has come to my attention that the same responses are normally given:
“Are you doing that on purpose?”
“Do you own a gun?””Have you watched the news lately?”
I understand where these concerns come from (I really do), but do you really think that God would call me to Oak Cliff and leave me there saying: “You should have been more selective about when you listen to me.”?? Um no. People are dying for the gospel in other countries, and the concern is about a move to a city known for drive bys and drugs? If you are worried about me, pray for me and let me know how I can be praying for you. I don’t want to live in a world where my perspective is so jaded that I become selective about the callings I listen to from God.

I am attending a school that had you told me my freshman year of high school I would end up at, I would have laughed in your face… He doesn’t call us to what is easy, He calls us to what is necessary. I don’t know what is going to happen in the coming months, but I’m going to do my best to please God as I enter into them. If I fall, I’ll get up with God’s help.

Where next?

The last eight days have been fast. To put it in terms of a work week: last week I worked 40 hours, instead of 25.

But lets recap a bit:

I went to see my Meme with the kids, and we ate at Finchers.

The kids and I lounged around a bit

I prepped for VBS

I got some really good prayer time in, as I talked to God about my concerns for the future, my goals, and my desire to please Him. I was able to attend a worship service Thursday night for the first time since the Sunday before Mother’s Day, and it meant so much and was exactly what I needed.
(no picture)

I slept at work three days, including Friday where we looked for a red moon.

I visited my cousins’ grandparents, and we went to Musella to get peach ice cream.

Sunday School, where it rained, and we played games and I sweated my butt off like I do every Sunday.

Sunday morning I was able to Facetime my crazy awesome Daddy at 6:30 AM, which was nice getting to see his face. I was very homesick this past weekend, which I’m sure had something to do with the lack of sleep, and excessive work hours.

Today was the first day of VBS and it went way better than I expected. Part of this is from a reality check I got, after one of my boys asked, “If Esther was a Jew, how did she believe in God?” I know this isn’t a super huge deal, but getting to answer this question not only allowed me to talk a little bit of deeper Theology with this little boy, it showed me that he was paying attention. That probable doesn’t mean much to the average person, but this little boy is not a fan of church groups, and likes to be on his own, doing his own thing. After talking through this question with him, to a point that I knew he understood meant so much to me, and helped me through the rest of the day.

 

Back to the peach orchard…

Dickey’s is about 15 minutes from the road house I remember being my first house, though I live there from the age of two until the age of five. Growing up in a commuter family, it gets hard to place geographic locations on memories, an issue I have struggled with for about four years now. Being so close to my original home was strange as I had a flood of memories rush back, and I felt things come a bit full circle. Being the type of person I am, being so close to that house mean a lot, as it forced me to realized all the things I have done in my life. It also made me thankful that I serve a God that can help us sit still for a few seconds and take everything in. It also reminded me that if God tells me to go somewhere or do something, I have to do it. I would not have as amazing experiences as I have, if it weren’t for God’s plan. I am excited to see where God takes me in the future, and pray I will not let my pride get in the way of His plan.

Getting Through

“God’s love for you is not going to change.”

These are the words that will get me through today.

You way not love Him, but He loves you.
If that’s not enough to peak your interest, how about the fact that no matter the resentment you have toward Him, He still loves you.

You are loved.

You are prized.

Nothing can separate you from God’s love.

Do you not believe me? What about Psalms 136?

It’s your duty to God to love Him back.

Stop putting yourself in situations that draw you away from Him. Don’t you owe Him at least that much?

 

 

As I continue to fight the darkness in my life, I will cling to these things. I’m learning who God is in my life, and that’s all that gets me through. If your struggling the way I am, I encourage you to read about Job, or even Jeremiah, maybe even Lamentations, but if you don’t find comfort in those stories read the book of James 1:2-4. This verse was literally the only thing to get me through the first time I struggled with the darkness of satan.

God loves us, but that doesn’t bring comfort until we understand who God is as He works in our lives.