Follow Me.

Mark 2:13-17

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth.“Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

"Follow me," Jesus told him (Levi), and Levi got up and followed him. I can envision the disciples surrounding Jesus as they walked along the shoreline of the lake. As Jesus stopped at the tax collector's booth, of course all the disciples stopped as well. I can just see the disciples all spreading around the booth as Jesus began to speak to Levi. When he spoke directly to Levi instructing him to follow, I can just see those words instructing the disciples too. Yes, he was speaking to this tax collector but what if he intended on the instruction implying that the disciples too should follow him and Levi. It's as if he was teaching the disciples simultaneously to follow him into the the presence of the "many tax collectors and 'sinners'." I believe it is just as important to respond to the command Jesus gave Levi to follow him. Plus, look how Levi responded to the authority of Jesus. He got up and followed him. He wants us to follow his direction, his lead. He commands us to respond likewise to His authority. He wants us to GO and fellowship with sinners. Why?

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

-Off to eat with tax collectors and sinners....

Banner

The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. - Numbers 21:8-9

A strange story. A strange remedy. Stranger still, the Hebrew word for "pole" (nes) can also be translated as "banner." So the bronze snake was a banner that Moses lifted up over the pople, calling them together to be healed of their faithlessness. Calling them together so that God and they could have the victory over their sin.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. - John 3:14-15

Later, John's gospel applies this powerful image to Jesus-to the act of his crucifixion. Remember the cross. Remember that it is by his wounds that we are healed and the bite of sin is rendered harmless. Receive his forgiveness. For his banner of you is love.

His banner over me is love. - Song of Songs 2:4

from Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler.

Gypsy Soul

I should have known that a plan to stay in Auburn for the Summer wasn't really going to happen. The lyrics of a well known country song by the Zac Brown Band, "I've got a gypsy soul to blame and I was born for leaving" seems to define me. Freshman year- summer in Nicaragua and Hong Kong, Sophomore year-Branson, Missouri, and Junior year- Montana. My Senior summer will be in Missoula, MT as well. I dropped all my summer classes after the realization that I could no longer stand being so bored for a whole summer. Criminal Minds, the pool, cleaning and random creative tasks can only keep someone like me entertained for so long. Instead, I am headed back to Missoula and will work for Cuddle Bugs Daycare until August. I leave June 6th and will be back in Auburn to finish school in the Fall. I will be living with a co-worker and cannot wait to get back to the beautiful mountains, cooler weather, and long days! I will blog some and hopefully get back into the swing of this. Until then...

KatyBug

I know I don't use this blog much anymore and I don't even know if there are people who ever read it. Some of you may get the blog in an email, I don't know. Anyways, I wanted to use my blog today for an awareness letter. In the pictures above, this is my friend Katy Bug. Katy and I met when she was living at Hosanna Home. She finished her program in March 2010. She and I have kept in touch and continued our friendship. This picture here is from December 2010. In just 9 months, Katy has relapsed very bad. Katy's story is very unfortunate, but here's the gist. She was raised in Alex City with parents who both used recreational drugs. When she was 9 years old, she began on this track as well. She dropped out of school at 13 and was a full blown crack addict by age 15. She completed the year long program at Hosanna Home and did pretty well for a few weeks. Since she still can't retain the knowledge to get her GED, she couldn't find jobs and obviously was back in her old living conditions. While Katy has responsibility in this as well, most of it just seems like a vicious cycle of death. I kept thinking to myself, 'What else do you expect from a child like this, really?' The Lord finally brought Katy to rock bottom.

Join with me in rejoicing that today Katy started a whole new journey for her life. I took her to the Teen Challenge Columbus Women's Home. Teen Challenge is a 12-18 month faith based recovery program. After working in this ministry, I loved the discipline and structure and encouraged Katy to try again to get her life back on track. After 2 months of what felt like a roller coaster, the Lord finally opened this door and made a way for Katy to get some help. As you can see, she is dear to my heart. She has a heart of gold and desires Jesus and wants to know more. Neither of her parents have jobs and she has no home church. I am asking you to help me financially support her as her church. We as the body of Christ are called to be the church and to help those in need. Yes, Katy has been through things and made unwise decisions in her life but so have each of us. And just as 'His mercies never to an end and are new every morning' for us, it is also true for Katy (Lamentations 3:22). If you can sponsor Katy with a monthly gift, that would be awesome. If not, maybe you can send a one-time gift. If you cannot support her financially, please just keep her in your prayers. She is only 21 and is en route to help serve a community instead of destroying it. If you can support here's the address. * * Make sure on the memo line that you put Katy Allen's Sponsorship.

Teen Challenge Columbus Women (make out the check to here as well)

14 Motts Dr.

Seale, AL 36875

If you want to support Katy monthly, contact me and I'll mail you a letter that explains how to pledge and do that.

Thanks for reading and supporting Katy.

Chronological recall of 10/25

October 25, 2010.

At daycare, my co-worker gave me this awesome mouse cake. Here me and a few kids are marveling over her incredible baking talent.

After work, I went to lunch with Becca and Colleen. I then came over to Becca's house to do one of my favorite activities ever-carving pumpkins!! Here's me and Aidan playing around after we finished our pumpkins!

Becca and baby Tristan!

Me and my pumpkin!

Aidan and his pumpkin.

Then I went home and spent some time playing with Kierra. The ladies here cooked me a Southern dinner of fried chicken, green beans, and cornbread. It was delicious and I'm very thankful for each of them!

After dinner I went bowling with some friends. These two beautiful women have completed the Teen Challenge program since I've been here. Melissa (pink) completed in the Summer and Kery completed in August. Melissa lives here in Missoula and Kery came to visit from Minneapolis.

Me, Colleen, Leannah, and Kery at the bowling alley.

The sweet friends that celebrated with me on my special day. Bowling is fun, especially with these people here.

Colleen made me cupcakes... I was obviously very excited!

Making my wish.... and excited that it will soon come true!! Only 2 months away....

Birthday Gifts...

When we are little, everyone asks us, "So what did you get for your birthday?" I decided that I would make a picture blog to display the awesome presents I received this week. Thanks to all who loved on me and supported me turning 22. I am one very blessed young lady.

Kierra was quite excited to take out all the items in the goody basket Aunt Deb sent to me. She may enjoy these snacks more than I do!

As you can see, even here my friends already know me well. Colleen got me cupcakes and diet coke. She hit the nail on the head for sure!!

One of the volunteers here made me an incredible cake. She used to be a baker and now does it as a way to bless others. I am so happy for this and feel extremely blessed to have had a wonderful cake.

Once again, my friends here sorta know me. Becca got me an ORANGE shirt because it's obviously the BEST color ever. These are pictures of her two sons that she included in my card. The book she gave me is a little cut out but it's the Little Prince. A friend gave it to her when she turned 22 to remind her to follow her dreams and stay young. So, she passed it on to me. It's very special to me!

As you can see here, Nana and Pop think I am currently residing in Alaska. No, this will be perfect for the winter. The weather is already getting chilly here so these will definitely come in handy.

Beautiful flowers from my ladies at Daycare.

Somehow, Mom not only got balloons delivered to Montana but also got them set up in my room! What a talent!! These are some tall balloons too I must add.

My parents got me two bible studies by Beth Moore and some cute little decors. My favorite gift from them is of course the plane ticket to go see my sister in Colorado in Nov.

This mouse cake was made by my co-worker at daycare. Her name is Amy and I absolutely think this is the coolest cake ever. Hands down.

If I forgot to put your gift on here, please don't be offended or think I didn't love it. These were just a few of many. I am very appreciative of all I was blessed with and can't thank you all enough for sharing another year of life with me! Thanks!!

Glacier National Park

I don't wanna grow up...

So, most of my days are highlighted by the time I get to spend with my little friend who lives here. Her name is Kierra and she is 21 months. She and I play almost every day. She runs by my room and knocks on my door every time it's locked (meaning she can't just open it and walk in). She is absolutely the most fun person around and I wanted to show her off a bit.

She and her mom playing with the bubbles I bought her..

I also got her some fun numbers and letters for the bath!

Our attempt to make a cake. For some reason, Kierra kept eating EVERYTHING: the eggs, the dough, the icing, the cake itself..

And this is my other playmate. He belongs to the Thrift Store manager. His name is Aiden and he is 2. This is when we built a fort in the couches and played in it!