A Tie-Dyed Thanksgiving

Can you recall the exact moment(s) you learned a lesson that changed the way you viewed/lived the rest of your life? This was one of those moments for me:

As I was cleaning the kitchen windows yesterday morning, I noticed a familiar stain on the windowsill from several years ago...TIE-DYE! The memory is as clear as daylight! I distinctly remember Colby and I drenching our t-shirts in hopes of perfecting the final outcome. Unfortunately, we failed to think everything through. When it was time to remove the plastic wrap, we quickly realized we should've wrapped the shirts more in order to trap the excess liquid. There, on the wooden windowsill, was a blue and black waffle-sized stain. However, that wasn't the worst part. We feared having to break the bad news to my mom...I mean, who wouldn't? Thankfully, we had worked up the courage to do so by the time Mom got home from work. We blurted out everything and then held our breath as we waited for her reply. To my surprise, my mom laughed and said a sentence that changed my life forever: "Kristin, honeybun! There are WAY worse things in life than a tie-dye stain on my kitchen windowsill!" It was in that moment I realized that there truly are worse things in life! Here's what I'm getting at:

No matter what the situation - whether you lost your job, a loved one, are struggling financially, etc. - there is always, ALWAYS something to be grateful for! Maybe you're struggling to make ends meet, but you've got a roof over your head. Maybe you lost your job, but you had a teacher who taught you how to persevere, despite the difficulties, until you get back on your feet again. Maybe you don't understand God's plan for your life, but you know Jesus as your Savior and because of that, you're able to trust the Lord and His plan, even if you can't see what He's doing right now. 

No matter how you're spending this Thanksgiving day, I pray that you write down everything you have to be thankful for. If you can't think of anything, I have one for you: "I woke up this morning and have breath in my lungs." May you know that, like the stained windowsill in the Koonce kitchen, there are worse things in life. May you "seek the sunshine" and find joy in the midst of your suffering. May you be grateful for the trials and tribulations you are facing, because it is through the darkest times God is shaping us to become more like CHRIST! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! God bless you all.

I thought I'd share my Transformation Tuesday picture with you. As you can see, I've always taken my "Pilgrim Pride" seriously! Once a pilgrim, always a pilgrim! 



This is a repost from last Thanksgiving so you'll know why I was dressed as a pilgrim in the above photo! I just hopped off the Mayflower and wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from those of us at Plymouth Rock! I pray for safe travels and full bellies, and that we're reminded how truly blessed we are to simply be ALIVE! As you count your blessings, remember that despite the upsets, God remains faithful and He is good to us! "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day!" As you count your blessings, know that if you're reading this, I will be including each of you when I count mine! God Bless, y'all! "Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 106:1

Thoughts and Theories

This post doesn't have a point...or does it? I'm not sure, but something I AM sure of is that my mind has been all over the place lately! I can't stop thinking about life, both now and after graduation. This post is long and unorganized, but I needed to write. I needed to think. I needed to share my thoughts and theories on what's been going on inside my head!

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked, "You're a senior in college! Are you sad?" Without a moment's hesitation, I blurted out, "NO! I'm not sad at all!" Ever since that moment, I've been thinking about my dreams and how excited I am to enter the next chapter of my life! I'm not sad about graduating. I'll miss this place, these people, my family and friends...but I feel high as a kite when I think about running (figuratively speaking, of course) full force towards my dreams! I GET FIRED UP! Why? Here's my theory:

1) With hard work, dedication, and passion, I believe anything is possible! We are fully capable of achieving even the BIGGEST of dreams, if we are willing to go wherever the Lord leads us! My favorite hymn is Here I Am, Lord and its chorus says, "Here I am, Lord! Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night! I will go, Lord, if you lead me! I will hold your people in my heart!" Every time I hear that song, my eyes flood with tears! I'm ready and willing to see what's out there and discover not only what the world has to offer me, but what I have to offer the world! Are you?

2) I went to Scripture Haven yesterday! It's a store in the mall, like Mardel or Lifeway for those of you back home, and try as I might, I was unable to walk away empty-handed. I came out with a daily inspirational calendar called You're Made for a God-Sized Dream and a book (from the clearance section, of course) called Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus! YAHOO! For those of you that know me, you know a) how much I loathe shopping and b) how stingy I am when it comes to spending money! In other words, this "Goodwill Gal" hasn't been this happy about a purchase in quite some time! I'm only a few pages in, but here are a few inspiring quotes to spark your interest:

"Somehow we all know that to play it safe is to lose the game."
"Yes, you can choose to play it safe, you can choose to settle for less, but never forget this: You were born to live a great adventure; You were created with a divine destiny; You are called to fulfill a great mission. You were designed for a unique purpose. Now you are called to live it out."
"When you seize divine moments, you investigate an atomic reaction. You become a human catalyst creating a divine impact. The result can even be earthshaking."
"God calls us to give our lives for something greater than ourselves. The path is thick with mystery, danger, and the unknown. The quest is to live the life God created you to experience. The journey begins right now-in this moment. And whatever you do, don't underestimate what you may find."

I don't want to lose the game. I don't want to play it safe. I don't want to settle or put God in a box. If I go down, I'm going down swinging!

3) I believe happiness is a choice and we decide every day whether we will walk with a chip on our shoulder or a smile on our face. Our present circumstances do not define our happiness! WE do! Our circumstances will change, but Christ never will! As Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." This point doesn't necessarily relate to the two above, but it's been on my heart lately so I thought I'd share it, too!

Conclusion: I have no idea what God has in store for my life but what I do know is that the desires of my heart and the things I'm passionate about will one day play into the big scheme of things! The more I read His word and the books/quotes he's placed in my path, the more excited I am for what is to come! However, I will continue staying focused on what is. When the time comes, I'll get on my feet and go! Until then, I'll do my best to "seize the power of every moment" here at Texas A&M. I know God has me exactly where he wants me and I will continue giving it all I've got! I don't want to miss a single thing!

COMPASS by Lady Antebellum

I've recently become obsessed with the song Compass by Lady Antebellum. The song has been out for quite some time now but I seem to always be behind on what's "hot" and what's not. If you haven't heard this song, I encourage you to stop what you're doing and listen to it because the lyrics speak volumes:

So let your heart, sweetheart, 

Be your compass when you're lost 

And you should follow it wherever it may go

When it's all said and done 

You can walk instead of run

'Cause no matter what you'll never be alone

You'll never be alone

This song makes me think about the future and how foreign post-grad life is to me. It will be unfamiliar, outside of my comfort zone, and ultimately terrifying. It will be challenging, a testament of my faith, and humbling. However, as I hum the chorus aloud to myself, the fear slowly begins to fade away and I find myself even more determined to follow my dreams and the desires of my heart because, just as a compass always points north, I believe your heart will always lead you in the right direction and get you to wherever it is you're going.

This song also makes me think about my hometown and everyone who has played a role in shaping me into the person I am today, individuals who have encouraged me to "DREAM BIG" and "TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM" as I discover God's purpose for my life. I know that no matter where this life takes me, even if I'm miles from home, I'll never be alone. There will always be people who love me, believe in me, and want what's best for me. I think it's important to know where we're headed, but I also think it's important to remember where we come from and the people who helped us along the way, the people who will be there to remind us who we are if ever we forget.

COMPASS CONCLUSION: Follow your heart wherever it leads you because it somehow already knows the way! Figure out what you want in life and do whatever it takes to get there, but always remember the people who helped get you to where you are as you make your way to where you want to be! Above all else, know that there are people who love you and believe in you!

"Hoppy" Halloween

With it being my senior year of college, I thought I'd post monthly updates so you can see what's been happening in the life of Kristin Koonce! It may seem as if I have already failed at the task but, in my defense, I just thought of the idea this month! This post will focus primarily on the month of October, but I'll catch you up on a few happenings from the month of September as well!

Well, I've got two months under my belt and time seems to be flying faster than ever. I am ABSOLUTELY loving it, though, and I am savoring every moment! October (and September) consisted of Fightin' Texas Aggie football, Recruitment, Hump Day, Big/Little Reveal, Block Party, a trip home, Party on the Ark, a little bit of studying (I threw that one in for the parents) and a whole lot of F-U-N! Don't worry, I have pictures for proof:

 

Sigma Phi Lambda Recruitment 2014: 

 

Seeing that the week's theme was 90's, it only made sense to have "Sister, Sister Bonding" at Grand Station for Thursday night's event!

 

"When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year...I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU!" For Friday night's event, we told everyone to "PIVOT" and stop by our Central Perk-themed coffee night to meet new Phriends! In the words of Chandler Bing, Recruitment 2014 was "perfection!"

Aggie Football:

 

 

"Throw your arms 'round each other and sing Hullabaloo, 'cause that's what we do, we bleed maroon!" - We Bleed Maroon by Granger Smith

Piggyback picture with my biggest brother, Clayton!

 

Big/Little Reveal:

 

We did our best to "shepherd" the LITTLE lost lambs to their BIGS for Big/Little Reveal! Where there's a wool, there's a way!

Hump Day:

*whispering into my ear* Camel: "Guess what day it is!? Guess what day it is!? HUMP DAAAYYYYYYY!"

 

Block Party:

 

Block Party consisted of couches, Jimmy Needham, a little bit of coffee and a WHOLE lot of Jesus! I am grateful for God's faithfulness and His unfailing love! #CoffeeAndCouches

I sure do LOVE living life with these two! What a blessing they are!

 

If you're not acting silly and making funny faces, are you REALLY in a photo booth?

 

This picture describes our personalities perfectly!

White Oak, TX:

 

"It didn’t matter how big our house was; it mattered that there was love in it." Family, after all, is EVERYTHING! This is a picture of my nephew, Tyson!

 

Party on the Ark:

 

This was how I asked my date to Party on the Ark!

 

It was a 'TOADAL" success and I was "hoppy" to march two-by-two with this guy by my side!

 

The officer body consisted of a bat, frog, Kung Fu Panda, bunny, and jellyfish!

 

My date and I were "leaping for joy" as we boarded Noah's Ark!

 

As you can probably tell, I'm having the time of my life! My senior year is everything and more than I could have ever dreamed of...and yes, I go to class! Hahaha! I don't necessarily pay attention in class, but we'll just keep that between the two of us! *knucks* I love Texas A&M, my family, my friends, my sorority, and most importantly my God! Everything I have is solely an illustration of His grace and is nothing I deserve, and it is my prayer that through everything, the glory goes to Him and Him alone! I'm grateful for the breath in my lungs and the opportunity to go out and "do what [I] can, with what [I] have, where [I am]." The Lord has truly blessed me!

 

Next stop: November

Give The World A Smile

A few years ago I learned that my DeDe's favorite song was Give The World A Smile. My MeMe began laughing as she shared how he would make the baseball team sing it on the bus after every single game, win or lose. The story inspired me! I rushed home and immediately downloaded the song. Tears filled my eyes as the words began to sink in and I was reminded of the impact a joy-filled smile can have on a person's life. If you've visited my blog before, you know one of my all-time favorite quotes says, "Give a stranger a smile. It may be the only sunshine he sees all day!" We are called to be a light in the darkness and oftentimes the joy we have in Jesus Christ can be shared with a troubled soul through an enthusiastic smile! As you've heard me say time and time again, you never know what one simple smile can do to a person's life and this song is a great reminder of that!

I have attached the YouTube video below and the lyrics are as follows:

Are you giving to the world a smile?

Helping lessen someone's dreary mile?

Do you greet the world with song as through life you pass along, cheering those you may meet along life's way?

Give the world a smile each day, helping someone on life's way!

From the paths of sin oh bring the wonderer's in to the master's fold to stay.

Help to cheer the lone and sad!

Help to make some pilgrim glad!

Let your life so be that all the world might see the joy of serving Jesus with a smile!
 



 

There are many possible outcomes in the game of life. We can win, lose, forfeit, and even tie! But when our joy is found in Jesus, we are able to "give the world a smile" no matter what the outcome! I think of my DeDe every time I hear this song and I thank God for the example he set for his kids and grandkids. Although I was young when he passed away, I am excited for the day we are reunited and can sing this song together! I encourage you to "give a stranger a smile" and let the love of Christ shine through you at all times and just as the song says, "let your life so be that all the world may see the joy of serving Jesus with a smile!"

Ask and Believe

IT'S STORY TIME, Y'ALL!

The bookstore has been backed up BIG time! I ordered my books THREE Tuesdays ago and only 3/8 of them came in this past Friday. Unfortunately, the book I needed most hasn't arrived yet! The problem? I have a paper due next Tuesday over this book and I'm leaving to go home TOMORROW! YIKES! As I was getting ready for the day this morning, I took the time to ask God if he could get my books here before I leave tomorrow. I just received an email informing me that my books were ready to pick up, so I immediately opened the email and saw that only ONE of my books was ready to pick up. Can you guess which book it was? THE BOOK I NEED TO WRITE MY PAPER THAT'S DUE ON TUESDAY! Coincidence? NOPE! This is a perfect example of Matthew 21:22 which encourages us to take the time to ASK God for something and BELIEVE he will do it! He's God - he can do ANYTHING! All we have to do is ask! GOD IS GOOD, Y'ALL! Happy Wednesday! HUMP DAAAAYYYYYY!

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

Performing for an Audience of ONE

At my apartment complex, there's a shuttle bus that picks us up and drops us off at the bus stop. Living in the furthest building away from the bus stop, I have always been grateful for this unique system. However, some days I am even more grateful than others...like today:

Sweat was already forming on my forehead as I waited patiently for the shuttle bus to arrive. When I noticed it rounding the corner, I shot up and began strolling towards it, planning to meet it in the middle as I do every day. However, today was different. As I was approaching the bus doors, inches away from stepping on, Mr. Charlie suddenly yells "PSYCH" at the top of his lungs! He immediately closes the door, laughs his head off, opens it and then, still laughing, lowers his head and says, "I should be ashamed." IT MADE MY DAY!

As we made our way to the bus stop, I couldn't help but think about all the ways Mr. Charlie shines the light of Christ on that shuttle bus. I thought about how there is always Christian music playing on the radio, how he has no problem bringing God and his goodness into the conversation, and how he never fails to encourage us to have a "blessed day" when we get off the shuttle. The love he has for his job is the best representation of Colossians 3:23 which says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord, not for man." It is evident who Mr. Charlie is working for, and it's NOT Campus Village! He is living, working and performing for an audience of ONE!

As Christians, the only praise and applause we should seek is that of God alone! It doesn't matter if you are a teacher, bus driver, talk show host, pediatrician, or zookeeper! God needs Christians everywhere, and we are called to "do what [we] can, with what [we] have, where [we] are!" That is exactly what Mr. Charlie does! He is an inspiration, and I am so grateful God allowed our paths to cross.

I encourage you to take Jon Gordan's advice (the author of The Energy Bus - I've written about it before in my post "Rejoicing on the Ride") and "drive with purpose!" Trust that God has you exactly where he wants you, and know that it's your responsibility to make the most of the opportunities he has given you! Shine your light "every day, every day" in any and every way possible!

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of

God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still

trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

Mud Stains

As we were cleaning the cabins at our Phi Lamb retreat one weekend, our crew came across a mud stain splattered on the wall. At first there were two stain-removers, but as time went on and as the stain became more difficult to remove, we were having to send in people left and right to continue the strenuous job. As we scrubbed, wiped, washed, and scratched, doing all that we could, and more, to ensure this stain was clean and looking good as new, I couldn't help but think about OUR "mud" stains. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, HE WORKS OVERTIME UNTIL WE ARE MADE NEW. He even sends people in and out of our lives (like those switching out, taking turns cleaning the mud stain) to aid us on our spiritual walks - to encourage us, to teach us valuable lessons, etc. - so that we may continue growing in His likeness. Just as we continued working on the mud stain until we reached the desired cleanliness, Christ will continue working on OUR "mud" stains until He can see His image in us, the desired "cleanliness." 

 "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

"First day of school! First day of school!"

It seems like just yesterday I was taking a giant leap onto the filthy steps of White Oak Primary's "Donald Duck" school bus to head to my first day of kindergarten. Since that day, school has been my passion. I believe this results in part from my eagerness to learn, but also from my enthusiasm for life and my thirst for discovering not only what the world has to offer me, but what I have to offer the world. The enthusiasm I have for education has continued to thrive throughout the past 16yrs, and as hard as it is to believe, I began my LAST year of schooling yesterday! I AM A SENIOR IN COLLEGE, Y'ALL!

Three things came to mind as I rode the bus back to my apartment:
1) I am BLESSED! Everything I have is solely an illustration of God's grace and is NOTHING I deserve! I constantly find myself down on my knees, wiping tears from my eyes, thanking him for the individuals, opportunities, and obstacles he has purposely placed in my life! I am confident in the direction my life is going, and I am grateful for the paths that have led me to where I am today. I know God is writing His story on my heart and I'm just here to turn the pages when He, the Author, tells me to!

2) I am PUMPED! After 4yrs of summer classes and 15hr semesters, I'm ahead of schedule and will be taking 6hrs in the fall. My senior year will (hopefully) be a hop, skip, and a jump! Though I'm only taking two classes, my present circumstances are evidence that God wanted me to wait and graduate in May! Besides, I've got my whole life to work! Yes, it's a delight (I repeat: a DELIGHT) not having classes on MWF! However, I am most excited about discovering God's plan behind all of this and seeing how He'll use my "free" time to make a difference for His Kingdom. Don't worry, I have set aside PLENTY of time to study and write papers!

3) I am ANXIOUS! The closer I get to graduating, the closer I get to the real world. I'll soon be making decisions that will test my faith, challenge my courage, and ultimately change my life! It's scary, nerve-racking, and exciting all at the same time! However, if there's anything I've learned in college, it's that I am called to focus solely on the tasks God has assigned me right now - passing my classes, leading my sisters in Phi Lamb, and reaching out to those placed along my path here at Texas A&M. We aren't guaranteed the future. The only time we're guaranteed is the time we have right now at this very moment! I am reminded of Luke 16:10 that reads, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." If we desire for God to use us in big ways, we must prove we are responsible with the tasks he has assigned us right now! With that being said, I'm letting go of the reins and will simply be enjoying the ride! I'll worry about being a grownup when the time comes!

Seeing that my first day of school was technically on a Tuesday, it only made sense to post a Transformation Tuesday picture!  In honor of my LAST first day of school EVER, I decided to recreate my FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN picture! Time flies when you're wearing giant bows and posing awkwardly for pictures! I am so grateful for these 16yrs of education, and I can't WAIT to see what God has in store for me this last year!

Negative Nancys

Moms have the best advice, don't they? Here's a little advice my mom shared with me a while back to help me deal with negative people:

When dealing with negative people, imagine a bull being in a china cabinet. Scary, isn't it? The negative person is the angry bull and you are a piece of china sitting daintily on the shelf. When released from the gate, that bull is going to do whatever it takes in hopes of bucking you off and breaking you. NEVER LET THEM BREAK YOU!

Here's the deal:

In Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren refers to these individuals as "EGR" people - "Extra Grace Required." Sound familiar? It should, because "EGR" people are EVERYWHERE! You will encounter them at every school, in every workplace, in every family, and in every church! "EGR" people are those individuals who drain your bucket, start drama, add fuel to the fire and ultimately bring out the worst in you. Simply put, they are bulls in a china cabinet and no matter where you go, there will ALWAYS be bulls! It may be IMPOSSIBLE to get away from them, but it's POSSIBLE to manage them...if we do so with grace! When dealing with these individuals, Warren reminds us: "God put these people in our midst for both their benefit and ours. They are an opportunity for growth and a test of fellowship: Will we love them as brothers and sisters and treat them with dignity?" Will we "kill them with kindness" and allow Christ's light to shine through us, or will we allow our anger to get the best of us? Just as happiness is a choice, we get to choose how we respond to situations! We choose every single day (or at least five days a week...depending on how often we see them) how we will respond to the negative, "Extra Grace Required" people! We should do our best to view the situation as an opportunity to better ourselves and become more like Christ, as mentioned by Viktor Frankl in his quote, “When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Instead of allowing our sinful nature to win, ask yourself, "What Would Jesus Do?"

Before you respond, be quick to recognize their intentions! Know that you are dealing with an "EGR" person who is trying to knock you off your shelf. There's nothing they would love more than to see you hurt because that's what bulls do - they charge. Pray about the situation, specifically for that person, and then ask God for the right words to say to ensure you respond out of love rather than anger or self-defense! If that doesn't work, remember Thumper on Bambi who wisely noted, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!" *begins tapping foot on ground*

 

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-45

God's Signs

I listened to George Strait's song I Saw God Today as I made the trek to town:

I've been to church,

I've read the book
I know He's there,

but I don't look near as often as I should.
His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just look down and stop and stare,
open my eyes and then I swear,
I saw God today.
 

I thought I'd elaborate a little bit on God's existence in our lives! I remember reading a quote that said: "Faith is recognizing the subtle signs of God's presence." I believe God constantly reveals Himself to us, but it's our responsibility to uncover the "clues" and be aware of His presence in our everyday lives!

With that being said, one of the places I see God is on street signs. Yes, you read that correctly. I see God when a rainbow is refracted (No, I didn't know that word on my own...I had to look it up and ask a few people) off of the white, aluminum street signs! I see them weekly, sometimes DAILY! Here's a little background information on rainbows: In the Old Testament, after God flooded the Earth, He set His rainbow in the clouds as a covenant between Him and all of mankind, promising never to flood the Earth again. Therefore, it's safe to say rainbows represent God's promises! When I see "ROY G. BIV" gently resting on a street sign, I don't think about Noah and the ark or animals traveling two-by-two. Instead, I think about everything God promises us (victory over death, He loves us, His grace is sufficient, He is good, etc.) and I am at peace. I know, without a doubt, God is reaching out to me and reminding me that "His fingerprints are everywhere." They may not be as blatant as the rainbows I see on street signs, but they're there! We simply have to scope the premises and be willing to dust our surroundings for them! 

If you look hard enough, you'll find that God's presence is all around you, for he is with us everywhere we go! It may be through the hug of a dear friend, the smile of a stranger, the budding of a flower in the springtime, or on an aluminum street sign! All you have to do is look and have faith that he's softly whispering, "I am with you."

I would like to challenge you, no matter where you are, to simply stop and smell the roses, having faith that God is present at that very moment...because he is!

Love ALSO Does...

As promised, here is a continuation of my Love Does book review. However, as I was reading and re-reading what I highlighted, I stopped myself. There's no way I could cover everything I want to cover in 1-2 blog posts, plus I want you to read the book for yourself! I want to see how God will use this book to change YOUR life, just as He used it to change mine! Odds are, you won't highlight the same things I highlighted because God will speak to you through the book differently than how he spoke to me through it, simply because that's just how God works! He knows what we need and when we need it! With that being said, I have only covered three more chapters:

9. A Word Not to Use

In this chapter, Bob talks about the advice he received from a friend who encouraged Bob to stop using the word that in his writing. His friend didn't go into detail or further explain himself, he simply said Bob "should treat the word that like it's a cuss word." His friend was a great author and Bob trusted him, so Bob began avoiding the use of the word that. As the chapter continues, Bob makes it clear that "faith can be kind of the same because Jesus didn't always explain everything in great detail." Instead, Jesus "just asked people to join the adventure." Simply put, we should "trust God because He's the best author." Bob "[thinks] God doesn't spell out everything for us in life, but He does tell us how we can write our lives better; and trusting Him implicitly is always the right place to start." Bob's friend wanted him "to stretch for a better, clearer way to express [himself] than [he had] done in the past. [Bob thinks] God maybe feels the same way."

Action: I need to remind myself that "a relationship with [Jesus] isn't supposed to make complete sense or provide security." I simply need to know that Jesus has my best interest in mind and a relationship with Him is all I need.

10. Corner Store Economics

When Bob was a child, he went to the corner store to buy a piece of candy he had been saving up for. Unfortunately, he was a penny short. However, instead of sending candy-less Bob on his way, the old man at the cash register "grabbed one of the pennies" along with some vinegar and salt and gently began shining it. When he finished, he laid the coin on the table and told Bob, "In my store, shiny pennies are worth double." He refused to let one penny keep him from showing Bob the love that God shows us every day. He taught Bob "that we have more power than we think to make our own rules about life to live out the economy that Jesus put in place." Bob concludes the chapter with this: "We each get to be the storekeeper, at least figuratively, and we decide who gets what and what things are worth. We get to decide that people, including ourselves, are worth more than others might figure and that following Jesus means doing math differently sometimes. Because actually we're all on the same side of the counter when it comes to needing a little help and grace and a shiny penny now and then. We're the kid and we're the storekeeper."

Action: I need to be mindful of others and be willing to "do the math differently" by showing them a LOT of grace and a LOT of love because even when the numbers don't add up, Jesus will ALWAYS be enough!

11. Ten-Year-Old Adventures

When asked what my plan is after graduation, a lot of times I answer, "I'm just trying to get to where I'm going...wherever that may be!" I don't know what God has in store for my life. I know the dreams and desires on my heart, as well as the things that fire me up, but I don't know when or how things will happen. All I know is wherever it is that I'm headed, I'll be traveling hand-in-hand with my loving Savior. You see, "Jesus doesn't invite us on a business trip. He says let's go after those things that inspire and challenge you and let's experience them together. You don't need a lot of details or luggage or equipment, just a willingness to go into a storm with a Father who's kicking footholds into the steep sides of our problems while we kick a couple in ourselves too."

Action: God is my travel guide and I will take the path He sees best fit. I will seek to trust Him at all times and, as my "About Me" section reads, go through life with BIG dreams and my BIG God!

Conclusion: In the rollercoaster of life, Jesus promises to make the ride worth it in the end if we're willing to hop into the seat next to Him! It will be bumpy. It will make our stomachs drop. We'll experience twists, turns, and loopdeloops...and if you've ever been to Six Flags/ridden Runaway Mountain, you know what I'm talking about when I say we will experience the thrill of a lifetime in PITCH-BLACKNESS without knowing where we're going or what lies ahead of us. However, when we step out of the car at the end of the ride (Heaven), we'll see an aerial view of the rollercoaster (life) and we will be able to see how those 540 degree spirals were necessary in the making process for all passengers (followers of Jesus) if they wanted the ride (Heaven) to be worth the wait! God will continue working in and through us until one day, His work will be completed! We don't have to have a map of the park. We don't need to know the physics behind every rollercoaster ride (although Physics Day at Six Flags is quite the adventure). All we need is a relationship with Jesus and a heart that's willing to jump for Him with our hands in the air as we make like The Three Little Pigs and wail "WEEEEEEEE" all the way home!

I could go on FOR-EH-VER (say it like Squints does on The Sandlot) but as I mentioned before, I want you to read this book on your own! God has specific things he wants to reveal to you that He can only do if you've got the book in YOUR hands! It's an easy read - the chapters are short, funny, and they are all personal stories/accounts that Bob Goff has experienced. Feel free to borrow mine if you'd like! In the meantime, let's show grace, love and mercy to all who cross our paths!

 

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Let us "paws" for a moment of silence...

In Loving Memory

Rosie "Rosebud" Koonce

April 20, 2003 - July 22, 2014

 

I remember the day Rosie became a member of the Koonce Klan like it was yesterday. Bless her heart! I was in my parent's bathroom when Mom strolled in holding an off-blue Easter basket with both hands, grinning from ear to ear. I put my hairbrush and squirt bottle down (the bumps could wait) and stared into the basket at what I thought was a bobble head sitting amongst the lime green Easter grass. As I got closer, I realized it wasn't a bobble head at all! It was a little bitty pug puppy tilting her head side-to-side, patiently waiting to be held.

 

Whether you were playing Nintendo, grading papers, or eating dinner at the kitchen table, Rosie was right by your side. She just HAD to be near a human. It didn't matter if she had just been scolded for having an accident (or four) in the house or yelled at for causing you to trip. Dear ol' Rosebud loved you no matter what and she was going to stand (err...sleep) by your side through anything and everything. She snored worse than any man I know and my friends hated that about her. Not once did we get through a movie without one of my friends (you know who you are...but I'll call you out anyway Tara, Rachel, Whitney, Mo, Jessica, JD, Dulce, Trent, and Faith) chunking a pillow at her because they couldn't hear the movie over her snoring or complaining because she got a little "eye juice" (their words, not mine) on their shoes. However, despite what my friends said, it was Rosie's snoring that brought me comfort more than anything else growing up. I knew if I could hear that curly-tailed pup wheezing and snorting, everything would be okay...and it always was!

 

Here are a few pictures of our sweet pug:

 

 

Here is Rosie's baby picture! You can't tell me this isn't the sweetest and cutest puppy you've ever seen.

 

 

I put the computer down for 5in and this is what I came back to!

 

 

 It didn't matter what she laid on...if she didn't have to sleep directly on the carpet, she wouldn't!

 

 

It wasn't Christmas morning unless A Christmas Story was playing on tv and Rosie had wiggled her way into the pile of tissue paper.

 

 

I remember my brothers and I were playing Nintendo one day when Rosie started to walk by in front of us. We were all three sitting in chairs, so each of our cords were lifted off the ground. Rosie walked right through the cords and unplugged every single one of our controllers. We just looked at each other and then began viciously yelling at Rosie for interrupting an intense game of Mario Kart.

 

 

SOMEBODY had to do my math homework, right?

 

 

 

She even helped Mom sort her music.

 

I know Rosie would've wanted me to post this picture on here as a reminder to everyone (my friends especially) that she didn't choose the pug life, the pug life chose her!

 

 

She loved me, I promise.

 

Rosie wasn't the brightest dog in the world, and she definitely wasn't the most talented. In fact, after nearly 12yrs, Rosie still wasn't potty trained. She didn't know how to play dead or how to speak on command. She snored, accidentally tooted when she sneezed (but don't we all), and got "eye juice" on you when you tried to pet her. But if you ask me, it was her silly quirks that made her a Koonce and I wouldn't have traded her for the world. She wasn't the perfect dog, but she was the perfect dog for our family!

 

I miss you already, Rosie! Life will be "ruff" without you and your snorts, but I know you're now able to see, hear, breathe, use the bathroom in the proper place, and do tricks like never before! Now "Go Dog. Go!" The house will be quiet without you. 

We will always love you, Rosie! Thank you for the many years of laughter and comfort! 

Love Does

If you've visited my blog before, you may recall a recent post called "Perfectly Placed" in which I explain how the book Love Does by Bob Goff was "perfectly placed" into my hands. I may or may not have read ahead *cue laughter as I try to lie and say I didn't* and finished the book before I was "supposed" to! Oops! But we can just keep that between the two of us...kapish? *knucks*

Here's a little bit of what I learned:

1. Love Does

Basically, our life "has all the potential [we] bring to it - nothing more, nothing less." We don't need an extravagant plan or a strict day-to-day schedule before making our next move. According to Bob Goff, "[we] just need to be present." We have to "[get] to the 'do' part of faith" because "love is never stationary. In the end, love doesn't just keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: love does."

Action: I need to throw away the timetable and quit trying to figure out the arrival and departure times as I seek to follow my dreams and become a talk show host. Instead, I simply need to show up, side-ponytail and all, and "be present."

2. Ryan in Love

In this chapter, Bob encourages us to live a life of love that's contagious "because that's the way love rolls; it multiplies." We should "live in such a way that those who don't know God but know us, may come to know God because they know us."

Action: I need to demonstrate love so zealously, those around me are encouraged to hop on board and sail through life the same way!

3. The Reach

It's okay to fail. In fact, "it's not just okay; it's better than okay." We will experience defeat more often than not but luckily, "God didn't make it a three-strikes-and-you're-out sort of thing. It's more about how God helps us dust ourselves off so that we can swing for the fences again." Don't let a few hard blows knock you out. Refuse to throw in the towel. You may be down for the count, but you're not down and out. Put your fists up and fight on!

Action: I need to expect failure and accept it with my arms open wide!

4. "Go buy your books!"

According to Bob, "when we want to do something that we know is right and good, God places that desire deep in our hearts because He wants it for us and it honors Him. Maybe there are times when we think a door has been closed and, instead of misinterpreting the circumstances, God wants us to kick it down. Or perhaps just sit outside of it long enough until somebody tells us we can come in."

Action: I won't let a few closed doors stop me from pursuing my dreams.

5. Wedding Cake

God uses us "not just when we're broken, but especially because we're broken."

6. Just Say Yes

Like Moses, "each of us gets to decide every time whether to lean in or step back - to say yes, ignore it, or tell God why He has the wrong person." God uses people every single day to make a difference for His kingdom. We don't have to be 6ft tall or, like Cinderella, have a shoe that fits. We just have to "say yes."

Action: I need to be willing to be used, even if I feel ill-equipped because "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the call."

7. "Wow, what a hit!"

Bob declares he "[knows something] that works every time - it's having somebody else say something good about you." When we see potential in those around us, it is our responsibility to reach out to them because otherwise, they may have no idea. Personally, words of encouragement from the people I love and respect most fire me up and make me feel as if I can go anywhere or do anything. Bob tells us we can be that person for other people!

Action: I need to use encouraging words to fire others up!

8. A New Kind of Diet

We have to stand firm in our faith and stop walking with one foot in God's word and one in the world. "God doesn't like it when people fake it" and it's time for us to "give them a taste of the real thing."

Action: I need to "show them real love from a real God."

Believe it or not, that's only half of it! But due to an episode of Gilmore Girls that needs to be watched and an ASL assignment that needs to be completed, I'll have to save the rest for later! In the meantime, let's be available, love zealously, accept defeat, bust through some doors, let God use us our brokenness to help others, agree to a task, encourage those around us, and stop faking our faith!

 

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9

"Keep Your Fork"

Someone shared this story with me years ago and it has stuck with me ever since! It reminds us that "at death [we] won't LEAVE home - [we'll] GO home" and the best is yet to come! I hope you're encouraged!

Keep Your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!"

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork...the best is yet to come."

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She knew that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

-------

Remember, at the dinner table of life you won't have gourmet food at every meal! In fact, many of the entrees served will not "tickle your taste buds" and you'll want to send the plate right back to the kitchen where it came from! You'll play hockey with your English peas (yuck) and you'll make foxholes in your mashed potatoes. But as Rick Warren says in Purpose Driven Life, “We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.” When you accept Christ as your Savior, the best is ALWAYS yet to come (no matter how good/bad your "dinner" turned out) and "at death [we] won't LEAVE home - [we'll] GO home" so "KEEP YOUR FORK!"

 

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

Mercy and Manicures

MERCY - not getting what we deserve

I'm not one to get manicures and pedicures on a regular basis. In fact, I go to the Nail Salon about as often as I wear my hair down in public. For those of you that know me, you know there must be a special occasion coming up if a) my nails/toes are done and b) my hair isn't in a side ponytail and I don't look like I'm about to go play a few rounds of Putt-Putt Golf...which I would never do because I loathe golf (no offense to you golfers out there - it's just not my cup of tea)! I'm just trying to give you a mental picture of my life in a nutshell. Here's what happened:

I decided to go get my nails done today.

I already had to explain to the nail technician that those were bruises under my big toenails and try as he might, no amount of scrubbing would rid my toenails of that luscious plum color I was sporting. To make matters worse, he had to call in reinforcements to help manage my pinky toenails that have been falling off the past few months. My face turned beet red as three nail technicians hovered over my feet and everyone in the pedicure chairs began staring in unison as we awaited the prognosis. It couldn't get much worse than that, right? WRONG.

I then scurried over to the manicure table where my forearms were massaged and my fingernails were painted "highlighter" yellow. Afterward, he sat me down at the drying table where, due to their lack of a clear table top (they should really invest in those things, ya know), I scuffed one nail against the other like always because there's just something about not being able to see my hands that makes me need to see my hands even more. Anyway, I finished drying and approached the check-out table where I discovered they don't take my specific credit card type. I then whipped out my EXPIRED debit card (not knowing it was expired at the time) only to have him shake his head and hand the card back to me. I looked to see how much cash I had and, you guessed it...I didn't have enough! I immediately began laughing (because that's just what I do in any and all situations) and reluctantly asked the man if he could give me 15-20min to run by my apartment to grab more money. Much to my surprise, he agreed to it! Still in shock, I wrote down my name and number and told him I would be back in a jiffy!

It wasn't until I was leaving Pretty Nails the second time that I realized how fortunate I was that the nail technicians trusted me enough to let me leave and go get more money! Driving away, I became emotional as everything that just happened registered in my brain - they didn't have to show mercy and compassion to a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed college student that was missing two toenails...but they did! They could have just as easily gotten mad, embarrassed me in front of the other customers, or worse...taken my nail polish off...but they didn't! They trusted me even though I did nothing to deserve that trust! To them I was a stranger with a deep, East Texas accent! Yet they smiled, told me it was okay, and they gave me another chance.

This, of course, reminded me of the mercy and compassion our gracious God shows us despite our shortcomings and failures. He smiles, tells us it's okay, and gives us another chance...not because we deserve it, but because he loves us! I am so grateful for the compassion I received today! Who knows...maybe I'll start getting my nails done more often! Even if I don't, every time I look down at my hands and feet or pass a Nail Salon, I'll be reminded of the manicure and mercy I received today.