Grandmother

I was listening to Chris Tomlin's "I Will Rise" on the way to school this morning when I remembered that this time last year my dear grandmother, Helen Campbell went to see her Savior. I don't think she has any thoughts of me. The moment her heavenly eyes were open, she forgot the pain and the loss of this world. Though a year has passed here, it probably seems but a blink to her as she exists now in the presence of God.

I can only imagine what she's doing right now....

Bigger than Baseball

Just finished Josh Hamilton's autobiography. He goes into great detail about his descent into addiction and how God got him out. If you want to get a glimpse into the mind of a drug addict, this tells it all. He tells the honest story and, just like he did during the Championship Series, gives all the glory to Jesus Christ.

One of the most touching parts of his story is how his brand new teammates, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Hank Blalock supported and befriended him when he came to Texas. Makes me love my Rangers even more. Keep the hankies close.

I Wonder

What would my life be like without fear? Who would Debbie be if she didn't doubt herself and give into discouragement? What if I didn't tell God how ill-equipped I am to do what He's told me to do? What if I saw my dreams, not as things I have to give up, but as visions of where God wants to take me? What if I stopped depending on myself and truly put everything in God's hands?

I wonder.......


WHGTUTDT? DI!

Fighting

I heard somewhere that people often act in anger when one or more of their needs is not being met. James, the half-brother of Jesus, who wrote the book of the Bible bearing his name says the same thing. "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1) He goes on to say that we don't have what we want because we don't ask God, and when we do ask God, we ask with wrong motives. And so, we keep fighting.

The answer to this vicious cycle is humility before God. We must be broken-hearted before Him.

Stop looking horizontally to find what you need. Look to Him. Nothing is lacking in Him. Nothing.

Convection Current

I teach fifth grade science. Don't get me started on how ridiculous it is that I teach science. When I was a student, I avoided science classes like I now avoid South Cooper Street on the weekend. I could've graduated high school with honors if I had taken one year of chemistry. I took Drama II instead. But, God has a sense of humor. I now teach science. And I love it!

My class recently did a lesson on convection currents. They're found in the atmosphere and in the oceans. It's the physical process by which more dense water or air sinks, while less dense water or air rises. In the atmosphere, air near the earth warms and rises. As the air gets further away from the earth, the temperature cools, making the air "heavier" and causing it to sink back to Earth, where the process continues. Convection currents are responsible for much of our weather.

It occurred to me lately that this process is similar to our relationship to God. He desires our praise. He also desires us to create things to honor Him. Our music, art, literature, and dance should enlighten our spirits, give Him praise and cause others to pay attention to Him. But it is God that gives us creativity. The ultimate creative Being gives us the spark of creation in our own bodies and minds in order that we may send the honor back to Him.

A convection current.

And we simply participate. We hone our skills. We study our crafts. But it is God who gives us life, joy and creativity so that we can give praise back to Him.

Highlights of NYC trip

Crazy Time Square....sitting in line to get TKTS...."Promises! Promises!"- great......Olympic Diner for breakfast......STAIRS.....lovely Belevedere Hotel......Washington Square Park street festival.....8th avenue street festival......Fernando......sore feet.....Mom: "Are there always this many people here?"......Circle Line......my friend, Chris....Yellow Taxi....Subway.....sore feet.....standing in line at the Empire State Bldg .....Where is Belevedere Castle?......John Lennon's birthday....Columbus Day Parade......Hoda almost ran into me.....St. Patrick's Cathedral....Chelsea Market chocolate....cheesecake....pie at Westway Diner...pizza.....sore feet.....lovely time =)

Fantastical

Just got home from David Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference in Waco. I've got months of blog material from this.

But, to summarize......

Gungor - Best surprise of the weekend. I want more, Michael Gungor.

David Crowder - Great host and amazing band. Just ridiculous. Thanks for doing "How He Loves."

Songwriting Session with John Mark McMillan, Matt Redmon and Matt Maher - Perspective: God likes music, but mostly He likes us. If we don't put some of ourselves in our music, really, how interested in God in that?

Frances Chen - Humbling. What faith.

Rob Bell - Great thoughts for writers. Words, words, words.

Louie Giglio - I love his passion for creation.

David Dark - Away with the duality of secular and sacred. All good art is Christian art...hmmmm.

Good stuff =)

Book Addict

I bought a new book today. That makes a total of 18 that I currently have, unread on my shelf.

I had to buy it. I had $5 in Border's Bucks that was going to expire on Thursday. And it's a book that the church is promoting. The last one I bought was only $3 at Mardel's....a Super Bargain, according to the sticker on the cover.

I know, I said I wasn't going to buy any more books until I read some of the ones I already have. And I do read, just not very fast.

Maybe it's a sickness. Hi, my name is Debbie. I'm a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with book addiction.

I will read them all, eventually.

They look so nice. =)

Opportunity

My co-worker Ginger came to work today all stressed out. This is not unusual for her. She said something like, "I know I need to rely on God when life gets so hectic, but it just keeps coming." So I quoted Joyce Meyer. "Ginger sometimes God tests us. And we don't fail the test, but we might need to take it over several times. Don't ask God to take away the circumstances. Ask Him to teach you what He wants to teach you through them."

By the way, I know Ginger will never read this blog. She's not good with computers.

New Beginnings

Wow, what a weekend! Saturday I went to the North Texas Christian Writers' Association Annual Convention. I was expecting to be encouraged to keep writing, but I never expected to be challenged  spiritually. I don't know why I didn't expect it because I always am when I get together with this group of people. The main thing I always leave with is that if God called me to put something down on paper, then I am a writer. Even if I never publish anything, I am a writer.

The biggest message I heard on Saturday was that I need to begin thinking of myself as a writer. I don't think I've really thought that before. And what I've heard God telling me lately is that to change my life, I need to change my mind. More specifically, I need to let God change my mind. I need to think of myself the way He thinks of me. Talk about a paradigm shift.

So, here I am, starting a blog (which was my homework from one of the sessions on Saturday). If you get tired of TV or have a strange hankering to know the inner workings of Debbie West's mind, then tune in from time to time.

I'm not using this blog to try to change the world. I'm hoping in some small way it changes me.

WHGTUTDT? DI!

Debbie