Drumroll, please..

:::

im moving to a new blog.

find me at leegrayson.wordpress.com

meet ya there!!!!!

“we seek God successfully when we realize we cannot find Him unless He shows Himself to us, and yet at the same time that He would not have inspired us to seek Him unless we had already found Him.”

on my way to birmingham to visit these two friends today. Cannot wait to see them!

Anyone know a good thrifty place to shop up there? Specifically I'm looking for pewter and out-of-the-ordinary plates. Have ideas? Help!

If you're doing the One Year Study, the readings for the next two days are:

January 3rd Readings:

*Genesis 5 and 6

*Psalm 3

*Matthew 5

January 4th Readings:

*Genesis 7 and 8

*Psalm 4

*Matthew 6

2009.. WHAT?!

Happy New Year, blog world.. It feels like yesterday that I was wholeheartedly convinced that 2000 would be the end of time, wiping me clear off the planet! 

I was 14 and dramatic, ok?

I always heard that however you ring in your new year or spend the first day of the new year will pattern how the rest of that year will turn out. If so, this is going to be the laziest year of my life!

I ate some yummy grits, watched the Rose Parade, sent a few emails, and didn't even dare take off my comfy pajamas until near 2 o clock. Tonight, mom and I watched 2 movies we rented from the movie vending machine (you have to check this out) for 1$ .. ONE WHOLE DOLLAR (apparently cheap is the theme of my year.. definitely satisfied with that). I mean, can we say FABULOUS? 

My 2009 is off to a great start and I pray that yours is the same. I was reading a friend of mine's blog and I scrolled down to find this story. It is amazingly powerful and mimic's a theme that the Lord has been burning into me since my first trip to Africa in 2007: "Believe the Lord for who He says He is". That is scribbled into every notepad and pinned on so many surfaces around me. Maybe you're already there, or maybe you've got no clue.. either way, this story serves as an incredible reminder of our great Savior and His relentless faithfulness . Read it here. (Thanks Kristin).

Also, if you're doing the One Year Study, or want to, the next two days look like this: 

Today's (JAN 1) Reading Schedule:

* Genesis 1 and 2, Psalm 1, AND Matthew 1 and 2

Tomorrow's (Jan 2) Reading Schedule:

* Genesis 3 and 4, Psalm 2, AND Matthew 3 and 4

how did you ring in the new year? 

JOIN ME!

Tomorrow, January 1st, I am starting (ok, re-starting) a one-year study of the bible. Meesh, Ber, and I bought this one year study/ journal bible in South Africa this summer. We did it for about a month and then we all headed home,and  it got really hard to keep up. Because this particular Bible's order of reading begins on January 1,  I've been waiting until now to begin. I think that following it by the days they have assigned makes it much easier to stay on course. The roadmap of the study is really simple. Every day you will study: 

a chapter/verse in the Old Testament

 a verse or chapter in Psalms or Proverbs, 

and 

a chapter/verse in the New Testament

It allows time to digest the big stuff, and I never felt overwhelmed (but then again, I didn't make it too far..). 

Obviously, barely getting through Genesis and Matthew the first time might indicate that I need accountability. Maybe? YES. That's where you come in.. I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME! There is no pressure to know it all, and there are no prerequisites. You don't have to know ANYTHING. We will journey together, with no one ahead, and no one behind. Different viewpoints and different opinions will increase our knowledge of our God, and will season our walk with Him. You in?

I know it's late to make this "announcement" (typical, huh?).. but you have like 12 1/2 hours to decide.. c'mon..

Email me at lowrylg@gmail.com or post a comment below. I'll email you back with the schedule, and I'll  post here tomorrow morning with the first day's reading. 

I'm excited :)

Lee

*** update: Several people have asked where you can buy the particular Bible that I'll be using. The Bible is "ESV Journaling Bible". Lifeway Christian Bookstores sell it, but when I went to their website, it seemed very expensive. However, if you search for it on Amazon, there are some VERY good prices. I am using the solid black one, but there are  colored ones that seem to be much cheaper (weird). You can also google search "ESV Journaling Bible" and it locates all different stores that sell it. Here are some links to help you out: Google Product Search, Lifeway,  and Amazon. HOWEVER, know that you  do not have to use this particular Bible. The ESV may be the best translation to use as far as comparing notes/scripture, but whatever you have will work! I'm MORE THAN PUMPED.. keep emailing.. the more the merrier :)  ***

I've got the desire..

.. for adventure.

maybe it's the new year and all the resolutions and forecasting we do.. , or maybe it's the extra cash flowing as a result of Christmas generosity... but I am YEARNING (dramatic? yes) to do something adventurous. Let me clarify, by adventurous I do not mean:

1) mountain biking 

2) bungee jumping

3) sky diving

4) going to a Monster Truck Show

5) ice picking 

My version of adventurous includes, but is not limited to:

1) moving to new york city 

2) quitting school (remember when we talked about this over Mellow Mushroom 2 years ago, rebekah?)

3) getting another tattoo

4) exploring Europe for 5-6 months

5) all of the above

It's funny.. because... i'm actually quite serious.

Do you ever sit back and wonder if you are doing what you were made for? I've been doing that for over a year (Danielle, you can pull up your facebook messages for a year+ as evidence of this, huh? and Holli? the porch talks?)...  A WHOLE YEAR. There are so many reasons.. but the main reason for this confusion is that I have an unreasonable and unhealthy need to live my life the way that the world thinks I should (or the way I think the world thinks I should live). I'm not placing blame.. I'm just honestly afraid of messing up. 

The new year is sure to bring about more honest and transparent blogs.. and maybe you'll be able to see why I question the current state of my life. But I really feel the need to stretch my legs and walk boldly into something totally uncomfortable. To do something completely irrational, unreasonable, and seemingly ridiculous.. yet totally necessary and liberating.

Lord, you have complete authority on every move I make. I'm begging- give me vision.. BE my vision.

Mistaken Identity

I'm sure you've heard the story (from 2006) about the 6 girls from Taylor University who were in a tragic accident. I'm not up to speed on all of the details, but I think that 5 were killed, and one lived.  Two of the families made headlines everywhere as they grieved their daughters lives. However, because of the alterations caused by the accident, the girls were hardly noticeable. The girl who was living was actually not who everyone thought she was. One set of parent's grieved the death of their daughter and she wasn't even dead. Then, the other hopeful parents clung to the bedside of what they thought was their own precious daughter. Five weeks into the tragedy, after one family had buried what they thought was their daughter (oh.my.WORD.), the two families figured out that something was not right... they were facing a case of mistaken identity. 

CAN YOU IMAGINE? 

Matt Lauer has done several interviews with these families, and did a catch up tonight on Dateline. It was absolutely fascinating. I have never seen the faith that they possess played out in reality. They know Jesus in a real way.. because they experienced what it was like for Jesus to be the only thing they had. We've gotta live that truth day by day, minute by minute.. tragedy or no tragedy. They really really get it. It was unreal to watch.. you should check it out.

Click HERE to do that.

If you'd rather just read up on it, click HERE or HERE

WOW.