By the Hand of Grace

If you want to talk about a God's grace, let me show you something. This story is unforgettable...







Those three pictures were taken Tuesday after a huge storm with tornadoes swept through Georgia. The house in the pictures was being rented by my friend Andy. Needless to say he won't be staying there any longer.

That tree fell directly through the middle of the house and landed in Andy's bedroom where he was sleeping...yes, he was sleeping when the tree fell. I definitely can't do the story justice so check out Andy's blog to read more!

All I have to say is God was watching over Andy that day!

Blessing them!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the world and the things we are trying to achieve that we forget to just stop and thank God for the little things that He has blessed us with. The things He continually blesses us with! We forget how blessed we really are.

I mean think about it...we are able to get up in the morning and take a warm shower, pick out an outfit from an array of clothing found in our closets, go to the kitchen and make some toast or spaghetti, invite friends over to our home for gatherings, sleep in a warm bed with warm blankets and sheets and for most of us, watch television or surf the Internet from the comfort of our own couch. Those are just a few of the many things we are provided each day.

Some people don't have those options. Some people wake up on a floor made of dirt with no blanklet and no pajamas. Their children have to drink water out of the local creek or for some, out of a ditch that looks like our sewers. Some people are dying from starvation and would give anything for that piece of toast that we have every morning. Their homes are the size of our walk in closets and for some families they have no homes.

It saddens me to think that our society, myself included, take so much for granted. We indulge in large portions at dinner and spend hundreds of dollars on material things just so we can have the latest fashion of jeans and that perfect shirt in every color. We complain about not having the right color scheme in our bedrooms and therefore forget we should be thankful just to be able to afford that comforter or pillow. Some people don't have that option.

I know that we often look at pictures and hear stories on the news about the poverty in the world and most of the time we just say a little prayer and go on with our day. I think it's time to stop giving 5 minutes of our day to think about these people and start doing something about their situation! That is why I believe strongly in organizations such as Compassion and World Vision. You can make a donation, sponsor a child and make a difference in someone's life! Why not give to the people who really need a warm bed and a hot meal.

Thank God repeatedly for what he has given you and then take some of that treasure and share it with those need to be blessed!

Engaged in Prayer

Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences" ~Luke 9:23

Here's something to think about...

People who play golf, I suppose, are people who happen to like golf, who have time for golf, who can afford to play golf, and who are good at golf. Recently I found that I often treat prayer as though it were a sport like golf ~ something you do if you like it, something you do in your spare time, something you do if you can afford the trouble, something you do if you're good at it. Otherwise you do without it most of the time.

But prayer isn't a sport or a game. It's work! You are not cheered on by spectators or coached by any experts. You won't get any trophies ~ not on this side of the Jordan, anyway. It's not likely you'll get any credit at all. For some people prayer might fall into the category of "fun," but that's not usually the reason we pray. It's a matter of need and responsibility.

Prayer is work because a Christian simply can't "make a living" without it. He can't live a Christian life if he doesn't pray.

Prayer is the opposite of leisure. It's something to be engaged in, not indulged in. It's a job you give first priority to. If we pray only "at our leisure"~ that is, at our own convenience ~ can we be true disciples? Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences" (Luke 9:23)

So that is what we must do! Spend more time in prayer. Have conversations with God, one-on-one with no distractions. As we all know He loves to talk to His children. In prayer you are saying, in effect, "my time, my energy, my thought, my concern, my concentration, my faith ~ here they are, for you." Let's work at being true disciples!!!

"Pray when you feel like praying, Pray when you don't feel like praying. Pray until you do feel like praying." ~Anonymous

tired

6:15 wake up call
A few hours of training
A full day of learning how to work at the North American Mission Board!
2 hour workout that made my legs feel like spaghetti
A little work before bed for Vertical

I'm tired!

Taking no credit

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” ~Acts 4:13

This verse is a great one. (Actually this whole chapter in Acts is really good)!
Peter and John just finished healing a lame man that was over 40 years old. And they did this in front of thousands of people. They were doing this act in the name of Jesus. As you could guess they were put in jail for the night. I would guess they may have beat them a little, but the crowd that had witnessed the act this wanted to know why these men are put in jail, they just did a great thing for this man. So, the next day when they asked Peter, "By what power and what name have you done this?” (this is what is great) he does not take any credit for himself at all. Instead, he begins to tell people about God and who he is. In verse 12 he says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

If it were me, I think I would have bragged a little. I probably would have been like, bring on the blind and I will make them see. But not Peter and John, they gave all the credit to God and his power. After some time the chief priest and the elders didn’t know what to do with them. They knew that they were followers of Jesus by the way they talked and presented themselves. They were kind and just waited to help people. I would love to sit back and think that if people saw me they would say, “Wow, that Shannon girl, she's a sweetheart, she must have a relationship with Jesus.” But I think sometimes my actions probably don't say that. You can go to people and tell them all you know about the Lord and how great he is. You can give that person 500 bible verses that say how God will change your life, but until you show them in your life how great he is, they may not believe! It’s like the little kid's song "This Little Light of Mine." In that song, you sing how you want that little light to shine and shine, and you will let nothing blow it out. Well, that is something that I want to do. I want people to see my light through kindness and generosity. I want to strike a curiosity in them that will make them ask about my relationship with God, allowing me to witness and share.

Well the end of this story goes something like this.... the people didn’t know what to do with Peter and John, so they released them and told them return home. They were told not mention what had happened but, do you really think they did that? NO WAY!

“…when they were released, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priest and elders had said to them. When they heard this they raised their voices together in prayer for God.”~Acts 4:23-24

How cool is that? I think for me I really want to walk a better life and stop telling people I have a relationship with God, and prove it, through my walk. So I challenge each of you to do the same. Let's be that mirror image of Christ through all we do and say. Let's raise our voices and praise the name of God. Let's let our light shine. Let's give all the credit to our Father.

Eleventyseven style!

Today has been amazing because Mallori and I got to hang out with some very dear friends to my heart, Jonathan, Caleb and Matt(Eleventyseven). They were in town today to perform in Buford, GA and we were lucky enough to hang out with them all day!

All I have to say is party like a rock star in your Apple Bottom jeans! Oh and it smells like death wings up here, haha! Makes my heart happy...


I absolutely adore these fine gentlemen!

Path of love...

What would it look like for you and I
to walk down a path of love?
What would it take to open that door
that we've been so impatient of?

Could we paint the perfect canvas
or sketch a flawless depiction?
Would it look and sound magnificent
with not a solitary restriction.

Where the stars align in a perfect rhythm
and the walls come crumbling down?
Could we dive in to a sea love
where we could fall and surely drown?

I can hear the star ensemble
and I can see the moon lite symphony.
They're playing a song of deep devotion
with the most perfect soothing melody.

The vision is so overwhelming
yet so vibrant and alive.
It's like standing in a Van Gogh painting
instead of staring from the outside.

In reality it's off in the distance
but the silhouette is bold and clear.
I can see you standing beside me
without an off set brush stroke or smear.

If our path of love was just a painting
we could paint it without the uncertainty of grey.
It would hold the colors of jollity and bliss
and only fervor affection would portray.

If our path was written as a song
it would echo with the rhythm of the moon.
The wind would write the chours
as the rain and sun would keep everything in tune.

But the painting is still unfinished
and the music is still faint and under review.
So our path of love is being orchestrated
and it gives something miraculous to look forward to.

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Me

Due to rain...

Here's my funny story for the day...

So, I went to the Georgia Tech/Virginia basketball game tonight with my friend Andy! We battled bumper to bumper traffic and pouring down rain to make it to the game on time only to find out 15 minutes after we arrived that the game would be postponed due to rain. Now I know what your thinking...postponing a basketball game due to rain is ridiculous, but so true! There was a leak that caused a puddle in the middle of the lane on the court. Therefore it was a hazard to the players, causing no sporting event for the evening!

Good news though...I got to sit in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech and I got a free hot dog on the way out! And it was a Boar's Head hot dog, ha.

Do you see the trash bag on the floor?? haha

Some Days Suck...

Some days truely suck (excuse the term used). They are those days when nothing feels right or good. The days where staying in bed all day seems like a perfect plan. These are the days when the same ole’ stuff happens. The stuff that makes you question everything. I am in one of those places now. I don’t question God, him I trust, but me, I have giant issues with. I mean really all I have to show for my adult life is the ability to hang in at being a poor, dreamer…but with great friends!!!

These are the days where I feel lonely and isolated and not exactly sure what God was thinking when he called me. I mean if God calls you to be something or to go somewhere, shouldn't He show you how or why? Thats the way my little brains thinks! What if my dreams aren't meant to happen?

Parish the thought…Soon I will dream again: until then I take heart from Chris Tomlin’s new song God of this City:

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You Are

You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless

You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You’re the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You’re the King above all Kings
You Are

You’re the strength in our weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
You Are

Chorus 2:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here
There is no one like our God

Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You’re the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You’re the King above all Kings
You Are

You’re the strength in our weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
You Are

Chorus 2:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

My new house

I've had several people ask about my new place in Atlanta! Here are a few pictures of where I live...

Here is the cute place

Here is the Den


The Kitchen and Dining room


And my room


from all angles!

Hope you enjoyed the little tour! Now come visit me!

Have you ever had Gelato?

So what is Gelato you ask...well here is a definition for you:

Gelato is typically made with fresh fruit or other ingredients such as chocolate (pure chocolate, flakes, chips, etc.), nuts, small confections or cookies, or biscuits. Gelato made with water and without dairy ingredients is also known as sorbetto (also known as sorbet). Traditionally, milk-based gelato originated in northern Italy, while the fruit-and-water based sorbetto came from the warmer parts of southern Italy.

My definition would read:

Gelato is an absolutely amazing and indescribable dessert. Definitely not your average Ben and Jerry's!

Mal took us to have the best Gelato in town the other night and I must say we'll go back again and again. It's called Paolo's Gelato and it was so incredible. If you haven't tried it, you need to visit and we'll take you! You need to get GELATIZED as Paolo would say!

Go check out Paolo's website...Paolo's Gelato

Hiding behind sad eyes...

Last night I was sitting with my puppy watching a movie when I looked over and saw her sad eyes. You see, my puppy, Cambi misses home and she misses my other dog Arley, who she used to play with everyday before we moved to Atlanta. I can see it in her eyes... and it got me to thinking, what do people see in my eyes.

I know that lately I have been a little sad! I've been missing home, friends, old moments and just the past in general. My past holds lots of fun and unforgettable memories and people. But, I almost feel like I've been hiding behind sad eyes. See, I do miss things but I am more excited about my future than sad about my past.

Sometimes when we are working towards a new season or chapter in our life it's easy to get discouraged and to feel a little more down than up. Even when we are thrilled about new surroundings and new people, we hold on so tightly to the "comfort" that we are used to. We are scared that the new things will replace the old. This can cause sad moments or hiding moments, where we detach ourselves from all the exciting new things around. But why would we want to do that?

I took Cambi outside today and walked her around a trail near my house. She had a totally different look on her cute little face. She was happy. She was experiencing something new and her eyes were not sad. This is what I need to do...Hold on to my past and treasure it everyday but, look with a smile toward my future. No more hiding behind sad eyes, instead I need to be glowing with eager eyes.

Look out Atlanta, I'm ready to dive in to what the future holds! And I couldn't be more thrilled!

A little golf anyone?

Today my dad would have been proud! Mal and I went to the driving range to practice our golfing skills. I must say that for two girls, we pretty much rock at hitting golf balls 100-200 yards! I have this feeling that everyone is going to want us on their team. I think maybe we should go pro or at least play super ball with Tiger Woods...or maybe we should just stick to the driving range for a while, haha.

Anywho, we looked cute out there!

Why does God wait?

Why does God wait? We ask this often...I mean, I hate waiting. I find that most people would agree with me. Waiting just seems to cause frustration, aggravation and just this feeling of being uncomfortable. Take traffic for example...How many people actually enjoy waiting on the interstate for hours just to get home? Now I can't see the hands but, I'm pretty sure none of you are raising them. It just seems like in life we are always waiting. We wait to turn 16 so we can drive. We wait to graduate college so we can get a "real" job and never study again. We wait for that special someone to sweep us off our feet(this one takes forever by the way, ha). We wait for friendships, careers, babies, etc., etc., etc. It's always something.

Sometimes we even feel like we're the only ones waiting but, we're not. We are in perpetual movement at all times for the "next thing", for the next season, for that "thing" that we can see just around the corner. We forget that God loves waiting, in fact He is infatuated with waiting. This is where I recommend you open your Bible. This book is full of people waiting...Let's open and look. Well there was Noah who waited on God to send the flood. Jacob who waited for Rebecca. Jonah who waited in the belly of a whale. Sarah and Abraham who waited for a child. Mary who waited for the birth of baby Jesus. Then there was David and Joseph...even Jesus waited in the garden. When we learn to wait, we learn that we are right where God wants us to be. When God waits, He always has a purpose and He always gives us a promise.

What is crucial is that God promises us the desires of our heart but, we want God to do it in our time line. We get these amazing ideas and visions of how things should be done, how it should look. We want the quick and easy and the "microwave" spirituality when it comes to our life life. This is unfortunate because God has something so much bigger than we can process and in the waiting period He is making whatever it is extra special.

God is never is never early and he is never late. When He waits it is always with good reason. He invites us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). We may not always understand or see the purpose. More often than not, we even think that God is not present or has stepped away during the time of wait. When in reality, the very opposite is true. He is ever so close and is He is working during your "transformational" time. God sees it as an opportunity to take a little extra time to make whatever it is extra special.

So sometimes when we are in a season of waiting and think that job, that friendship, that spouse or "whatever" will never come… keep in mind that God may choose to take us 8 blocks to get there instead of 4 blocks. And keep your eyes and hearts open to the transformation that is taking place.. the goodness that is being displayed.

God will never have us wait without a promise and a purpose. Enjoy the wait, enjoy the time and watch His purpose continue to unfold. That is the magnificent mystery about God. There is something great just around the corner..you just may have to take those extra blocks to get there…

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…(Jeremiah 29:11)

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the end

Let me catch up...

So my computer has been in the shop for the past two days and I just got it back, so I can finally write again. And believe me, a lot has happened in the past few days!!!

Let's begin with Monday...Mallori, Andy and I went on a little adventure to try something new, well new for me. We went and had wheat grass shots. Now I'm sure most of you don't know what that is or maybe I'm just the only one that didn't know what that was but, it was great. We had what is known as a grand slam which consists of a wheat grass shot, ginger shot, cranberry juice shot and a lemon juice shot with a pineapple chaser (and no this was not alcoholic, ha). It was such a fun experience that we documented it for all to see...

OK now Tuesday was amazing. I went to 722(post college singles worship) and listened to an incredible message which I will go in to more detail about tomorrow for each of you. After 722, Mallori and I went to Buford to meet my friend Ben and a few others to see U2-3D! It was absolutely amazing. I mean Bono was like right there, in front of my face. It was the best concert ever, haha! Ben and I held up our phones so that we would fit into the scene, ha! I wish all of you could have been there! If you haven't heard of this movie/concert go look it up, NOW...

OK, I could go on and on but I'll save some for tomorrow!

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the end

Hay Ride Fun

Now, I know that you have all seen the amazing chocolate party pictures and that was only a small glimpse into my weekend in Nashville. Let me tell you more about what we did...

On Thursday when I arrived in Franklin, we all decided go get some Mexican food for dinner...oh and Lucas gave me a real hug, haha! There were nine of us that went out to eat and it was great to share stories and talk about what had been happening in each of our weeks. We even had time to take a picture with the waiter...

After a fun dinner, Brock pulled the truck around to pick us up and attached to the truck was a trailer filled with hay. We all looked a little stunned but Brock proceeded to tell us that we were going on a hay ride around downtown Franklin. Keep in mind it was 30 degrees outside and it's definitely not the season for a hay ride but we went on one anyway. It was so much fun. We waved at the passing cars like we were in a parade and we sang some songs as well. Ahhh, good times in Franklin!

Next time it's fireworks for Easter, haha!

Chocolate Love

Well I told you that this blog would be worth the wait, and I would never lie to you!

Friday night Brock and Auny threw a Chocolate bash! We had everything from a chocolate fountain to chocolate from different countries to the best photo shoot ever. It was amazing!

We all got dressed up, real fancy and took some cheesy prom-like pictures for Valentine's day. Here are just a few for your viewing pleasure...

How cute are we?

How amazing are these photos? We had a blast just posing and laughing and just being ourselves, which you can tell!

Now the fun didn't stop here! Did I mention we had chocolate? Lots of chocolate?




Oh and you want to know that best part of this whole night??
...I thought you would!!!

We raised over $390.00 in donations to put towards a family in Ecuador. You see there is this family that Brock and Auny met while being overseas. They learned that this family was paying about $13.00 a month for their mortgage and the total cost to pay it off was somewhere around $420.00. Can you imagine paying $13.00 a month on your mortgage? That's lunch for us. It just shows how rich we really are and how our money can bless so many!

Brock and Auny decided that paying off that mortgage was nothing for our community. And with the money raised at the party plus the pledges that are still coming in, we have raised enough money to truly bless this family. How amazing is that?

If you want to help us help families, let me know and I'll give more details!!

God is good!

boots, movies and more!

OK first off, I apologize for no posting yesterday! I know that it made a few people anxious and a little sad that there was nothing good to read on Friday, February 8th (Daniel I am deeply sorry). And second, I wanted to wait and write about yesterday when I had pictures to show you all how much fun we had. So with all that said, I will wait to tell you all about our hay ride around downtown Franklin, Chocolate tasting at Brock's, funny Valentine prom pictures and raising money for Compassion...trust me it's worth the wait!

We will move on to today... what a gorgeous day in Franklin, TN! Today I spent time with my friend Kim. We had a so much fun mixed with a little adventure. We met Daniel and Evan for lunch at Logan's(by far the best rolls ever) then we went to some shops in Cool Springs for a little money spending! I bought boots and yes I know, I shouldn't have but, they are super cute. It took an adventure to find them but we did! Chocolate suede boots in size 7 1/2...perfect.

Tonight, my lovely roomie Emily(yes I still call her that) and I went over to our friend Shane's house to watch "Across the Universe" and indulge in some Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. It's alway a pleasure to hang out with Shane and laugh about nothing at all.

What a great day!

today...

today i made the drive from atlanta to nashville for the weekend!

i am happy

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end of blog :)

What's a doodle

OK, so what I have learned is that some of the things that I grew up loving in North Carolina, some people have never heard of in other states and countries.

Let me tell you this funny story...

A few months back, a few friends and I were sitting up a Starbucks when I brought up the fact that I loved cheese doodles. I thought nothing of the conversation...I mean who doesn't love little puffy cheese snacks? I mean come on...they are amazing but, everyone looked confused. No one had heard of cheese doodles before, especially my friend Morgan. You see, Morgan is from New Zealand and I guess some of their words are different from ours. After a few moments of the confusing look, Morgan asked "You like what?" I responded with the words "Cheese Doodles."

I could see the embarrassed look on his face, so I asked what was he thinking about. Well, Morgan informed me that doodle in New Zealand is a term used for the male reproductive organ. WOW, I definitely was embarrassed, haha!! This whole time, Morgan thought I was saying that I liked Cheese "male" parts. How funny yet mortifying is that??





So I dedicate this blog to Morgan with this picture to prove that cheese doodles in North Carolina are definitely puffy cheese snacks!!!