oh snap

God said, "Bizzle...you thought you knew what was going to happen."

Bizzle said, "God, I'm dumb. Just give it to me. Bring it on."

Oh yeah, He brought it.

What I thought was a my-plans-were-falling-apart-kind-of-life-changing-moment turned out to be a God-was-just-showing-me-that-He-had-something-going-on-that-
was-going-to-kick-my-plan's-butt!

Or, to rephrase: I thought I was going to Kenya this summer to do "something to be determined and to stay somewhere to be determined". I found out Saturday afternoon that it wasn't happening. I was crushed/devestated/emotionally unable to deal. By Sunday evening, I already had a place to stay in Uganda, a project to work on, and knew exactly who, where, when and what.

How's that for thinking my plans were better than God's? He only needed a few hours to make it happen.

Dang, He's good.

so, maybe it's time for an update...

I feel like I've been so busy lately that I haven't taken any time to really keep up with anybody, which is a dumb move on my part. So, at least I can do a quick update on my blog for those of you that I haven't actually gotten the chance to connect with lately!

Where to start? Let's just jump right in...

As of May 12, I will no longer be employed at Buckhead Church. After a little over a year of being here (and what an amazing year it has been!), I am moving on to pursue other opportunities. For the past couple of months, I've been working with the Passion World Tour team to help prepare for the upcoming tour which is set to kick off in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 16th. In addition to all the logistics I've been helping with, I'm also on the Ukraine team and helping with the Uganda team. So, on May 12, I jump on a plane for Kyiv.

From there, I will be headed to....Stockholm, London, Uganda...and then probably Kenya.

I have the opportunity to potentially spend some extended time in Kenya helping an organization called BrightPoint for Children. Details of what I will be doing are still in the works and the whole trip, itself, is subject to change based on their needs. But, what an amazing opportunity it is...I am anxiously awaiting and praying through everything that is ahead on the road before me. God has astounded me with dreams and desires that I did not know I could have!

So, I know that is such a "big picture" of what lies ahead...but, that's where I am right now. I'll keep you posted as I find out more of what is to come. A lot of other big changes are going on right now, too, so if you would "say a little prayer for me", I'd SO appreciate it. I'm ok with the not knowing...I just want to be sure I'm walking the path I'm supposed to be walking!

Oh, and thanks for all the compliments on the haircut...I'm still getting used to it. :O)

what I see happening in my life.

Seems like a good day to reflect upon some things God is doing in my life...these are in no particular order and I can't guarantee they will make any sense to you or will have any depth whatsoever. That's my stipulation. :O)

(I am going to number them because I like lists. Lists make me feel like I am accomplishing things. I know, I'm ridiculous.) So, here goes:

1. When I finally realize that what is going on in my life and around me is not always about me...when I see things from a perspective beyond my own...THAT is the point when God tends to use me in the most perceptible of ways. It is in those moments when my brokenness is swept into the overwhelming mercy and grace of a Savior who is willing and waiting to redeem all people. It is like I become a channel for the work of God and I don't even realize that my hands are the ones doing the physical work because the work, itself, is not important inasmuch as what it is accomplishing and directing others towards. I don't mean to suggest, AT ALL, that I'm doing some great work or anything like that, but it's merely the idea that there are these slivers of moments when I actually get out of the way and stop trying to do things the way I think they should be done. That's when God uses me most efficiently and seemingly in my strengths.

2. I have always had a desire to explore something beyond the world I occupy. I think that's why I'm so comfortable with change and why I tend to seek it out (how many comments will I get about that?!). This past year, though, I decided to put my change bug to rest for a bit and truly seek first the kingdom of God. (After a few months, I decided that was not so easy to do. And then there came Kenya!!!) In all of this, though, I have come to realize that this change bug, this desire to explore...it's not a bad thing to seek as long as it's part of the "seek first HIS kingdom". When I truly lay down my desire to make things happen and figure out where my life is going, I see the most amazing adventure before me. God takes me places I would never have imagined going...territorial, spiritually, emotionally, relationally...

3. This past August, I managed to somehow start leading a small group through Buckhead Church. I wasn't planning on leading a group, only wanted to join one. But, obviously God had other plans in mind. Over the past 6 months, I have managed to walk alongside 5 incredibly wonderful and uniquely gifted women that I would never have met had I not said OK to leading a group. Somehow, beyond anything I could have ever done, we have managed to dig into each other's lives so quickly and so deeply that it amazes me every time we get together. Not only do we meet for our normal community group time, we also randomly just spend time together doing other things...I am incredibly blessed to have Lori, Christine, Katie, Rachelle, and Kristi in my life!

4. I really like toast for breakfast.

a lot of work to do!

Those of you that have been around me the past week or so know that I've taken on a lot more responsibility in my life. Not only am I working for Buckhead Church on my normal "not-quite-full-time-basis-but-who-are-we-really-kidding-it-seems-like-i'm
-working-full-time-with-all-the-email-checking-i-do-outside-of-work" basis, I have also been working for Passion on a part-time/contract basis. I've been helping them out in the webstore as they need it, but now I'm also working on the World Tour team with my roomie, Amy. That's good times. I'm helping them pull together information for vaccinations, visas, and flights for 40 some people traveling to 17 cities over 7 months time. Yikes. It's a lot of stuff. Especially when you throw in the fact that some of those people are bands (and we know how musicians are). :O) Nothing but love.

SOOOOOOOOOO. That is in addition to the fact that I'm leading a team to South Africa in mid-May and then am on the Passion: Uganda team in late May. And then am potentially leading a team to Kenya in June or July and could possibly just go live in Kenya for a few months.

Right. Does YOUR brain hurt yet?

And that's on top of the fact that I have to actually PAY for all of this travel. But, fortunately, that's the part I'm not worrying about. Of all the things I don't know, I DO know that God has specifically called me back to Africa. So, the money is working itself out. That's why I'm working so much and that's why I will start fund raising soon.

But, back to crazy. Sometimes it's hard for me to focus on what I'm doing because I have a lot of things going on in my mind. I already live in my head a little too much, anyway, so now it's pretty ridiculous (if you couldn't tell from this post).

On any given day, you will find me sitting somewhere with 2 computers open and going, a notebook out with spreadsheets and documents spread before me, music playing or my headphones on (with one out so I can listen if someone talks), and my phone close by for texting. Crazy bird.

Oh, wow. Its snowing outside (I'm in Maryland, not Atlanta). Nice. Hopefully it won't snow too much, although it's supposed to get heavy this afternoon. I'm supposed to give a Kenya presentation to a big group of my family tonight, so I don't want that to be canceled. Better go work on that now....

Peace.

wanna go to Africa with me?

Alright, people. Here's your chance. I am leading 2 trips to Africa this year. One is in May to South Africa (most likely will be May 9-18 or 16-23) and the other is July 10-20 to Kenya.

The application deadline is Monday...I need more people on both trips.

The May trip to South Africa is a KidStuf Production trip, so I'm looking for people with either KidStuf or production experience (see how that works?). :O)

The July trip to Kenya will be a project trip to either help continue building an orphanage or to continue work in an existing 410 Bridge community (it's a partnership trip with North Point and 410 Bridge). This is the trip I am MOST excited about and would LOVE LOVE LOVE for everyone to join me on!!!

If you are interested in getting a bit more info, just click over to the globalX site...it probably has more info than I do. I'm at a globalX retreat this weekend, so I will hopefully know more in the next few days.

YEAH FOR AFRICA!!!!!