So do I go away to college or not? I really felt like God was saying, Stay Home. But all the odds were againt this decision. The hardest part would be to tell my mom. I thought she might understand. One day I casually asked her, "Mom, what would you think if I didn't go away to college?" She basically exploded. After she calmed down, she decided that that it would be Ok if I stayed home and went to college as long as I paid for it. Hmm..Free college or not. Now it was a REALLY hard decision. I fasted. I prayed and still felt like I shouldn't go. I was really only 18 and had not made up what I wanted to do with my life. How could I make such a huge decision? I talked with Pastor Jeff Brown, Maritsa, my friends.. they all affirmed that I should stay. So I did.
My heart and my mind really wanted to do what my mom and dad wanted. I really wanted to please them, to make them proud. But I went against them. It was the hardest decision in my life so far.
I enrolled in the education department at Cleveland State. The only trouble was I didn't want to waste money on room and board and I couldn't live at home. I had really no where to go. I decided to ask my grandma and grandpa if I could live with them while I commuted. They agreed to let me stay.
So after graduation (which my husband Russ happened to be at, coming to see kids in his youth group!), I went to Spain and France on a high school trip. It was amazing and I vowed to go back someday. The day I flew home, I came home to any empty house. My mom and stepdad and sisters had moved. All that was left were my things. I packed everything and moved that day to grandma's house in Parma, Ohio.
Graduated, 18 and kindof on my own. My new life was just beginning.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Silver Ring Thing!
On Wednesday night, we had our first SRT event!Here are the 35 students who committed to stay abstinent until marriage. Each student got a silver ring to remember their committment to God. It was great night!
Connected: My story continued
I have learned from starting a church plant eight years ago that meaningful connections are what bring people back to church. So after a missionary service I attended 12 years ago in Cleveland, I practically ran to sign up to help with any opportunity I could get my hands on. I was starving to serve in any way I could. Well, these missionaries were not leaving to go to Puerto Rico for a few years, so I really couldn't go with them. They politely told me to sign their mailing list. That didn't excite me. So I said to them, "What can I do NOW?" They answered, "Well, there is this church starting in Westpark. The pastor could use some help making calls and passing out flyers." I said, "Sure, I'll do anything." That is when I met Pastor Jeff Brown.
There are a few people in your life that are the ones who really help to mold you. They see the potential in you and help you become who God wants you to be. Jeff was one of those people. His passion was contagious. He was so excited about this new church that God had called him to start. Him and his wife, Maritsa, left Calfiornia and their comfortable life to come to the inner city of Celveland and start a church-cold turkey. No mother church, nothing. They relied only on family and word of mouth to get people involed and more than not, they ended up doing most of the work themselves. I never met a person who worked harder for God than Jeff Brown. He was inspiring.
Jeff asked me to call hundreds of people to tell them about the new church. I remember pages of numbers of residents that I would highlight and keep track of. Wow, I wonder how I had so much time back then. Then I would help them go door to door every Saturday.
He mentioned on a couple of occasions that the church was going to need someone to teach children. Whoa, "Not me", I said. I didn't teach kids. I had had enough of my own little sisters. (Sorry Mandie and Jess.) I was barely a Christian, but for some reason, Jeff believed in me. I'm not sure why. He said all you have to do is follow the curriculum and teach. He told me of a church that did Big Days once a month. I got several ideas from Tommy Barnett(The egg hunt being one of them). Jeff personally mentored me. He connected me to meaningful relationships, especially with Maritsa and her sister Julie. He taught me so much about people and God and faith. One thing I remember Jeff saying was, "Walk slowly through the crowd. Look into people eyes. Don't rush past with your own agenda. Care about people". He exemplified this every time I saw him.
So, the day Westpark Asssembly of God opened, I started teaching kids church for the very first time, through the nudging of Pastor Jeff.
It was summer and as most graduated seniors do, they plan to go to college. I was excited about my future college carreer. I had worked hard in high school, so I could attend a good college. I really liked science, so I was going to try chemical engineering. I had visited Ohio State and Ohio University and decied to apply to OU. I was accepted into both the school and their chemical engineering program. I was so happy. I even had a roommate from Brooklyn that would go with me. I told Jeff I could only teach until I left in August for college.
That summer my outlook on life changed. I found myself getting so ecxited about teaching every Sunday. I no longer wanted to make lots of money and have good job. I couldn't just change everything though. It was already set in place. I would go away. Then God started to speak to me. Through several different people and through several incidents, God spoke. Everywhere I went, I heard, "DON'T GO, Go to Cleveland State Unviersity". I was appalled. Cleveland State? That was like the worst choice ever. But the more I prayed the more I heard God saying to just stay. It was a fight between God's will vs. mine.
more to come...
There are a few people in your life that are the ones who really help to mold you. They see the potential in you and help you become who God wants you to be. Jeff was one of those people. His passion was contagious. He was so excited about this new church that God had called him to start. Him and his wife, Maritsa, left Calfiornia and their comfortable life to come to the inner city of Celveland and start a church-cold turkey. No mother church, nothing. They relied only on family and word of mouth to get people involed and more than not, they ended up doing most of the work themselves. I never met a person who worked harder for God than Jeff Brown. He was inspiring.
Jeff asked me to call hundreds of people to tell them about the new church. I remember pages of numbers of residents that I would highlight and keep track of. Wow, I wonder how I had so much time back then. Then I would help them go door to door every Saturday.
He mentioned on a couple of occasions that the church was going to need someone to teach children. Whoa, "Not me", I said. I didn't teach kids. I had had enough of my own little sisters. (Sorry Mandie and Jess.) I was barely a Christian, but for some reason, Jeff believed in me. I'm not sure why. He said all you have to do is follow the curriculum and teach. He told me of a church that did Big Days once a month. I got several ideas from Tommy Barnett(The egg hunt being one of them). Jeff personally mentored me. He connected me to meaningful relationships, especially with Maritsa and her sister Julie. He taught me so much about people and God and faith. One thing I remember Jeff saying was, "Walk slowly through the crowd. Look into people eyes. Don't rush past with your own agenda. Care about people". He exemplified this every time I saw him.
So, the day Westpark Asssembly of God opened, I started teaching kids church for the very first time, through the nudging of Pastor Jeff.
It was summer and as most graduated seniors do, they plan to go to college. I was excited about my future college carreer. I had worked hard in high school, so I could attend a good college. I really liked science, so I was going to try chemical engineering. I had visited Ohio State and Ohio University and decied to apply to OU. I was accepted into both the school and their chemical engineering program. I was so happy. I even had a roommate from Brooklyn that would go with me. I told Jeff I could only teach until I left in August for college.
That summer my outlook on life changed. I found myself getting so ecxited about teaching every Sunday. I no longer wanted to make lots of money and have good job. I couldn't just change everything though. It was already set in place. I would go away. Then God started to speak to me. Through several different people and through several incidents, God spoke. Everywhere I went, I heard, "DON'T GO, Go to Cleveland State Unviersity". I was appalled. Cleveland State? That was like the worst choice ever. But the more I prayed the more I heard God saying to just stay. It was a fight between God's will vs. mine.
more to come...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day: My Story Continued
By February of 1996 I was starving to know about God. I had been raised Catholic and went to a private school in Parma-Incarnate Word Academy. I thank God fo the foundations I learned there as a child. Some of my fondest memories were attending church as a family when I was younger. Now all I wanted to do was go to church. Any time the doors were open I was there. Danielle told me about a great youth group meeting very Wednesday at Immanuel in Brookpark. I started going there with her. I also went to church there and attended all the special services, dying to know about Jesus more.
It was at a special missionary service that really cahnged the direction of my life. You see, if God had not called Lance and Maryann Hastings, missionaries to Puerto Rico, to come to Immanuel to speak, then I would never have met Jeff Brown. If I had never met Jeff Brown, I would never had started doing children's ministry. If I had never started doing children's ministry, I would never have changed my major to teaching. If I had never changed my major to teaching, I would never have changed colleges. If I had never changed colleges, I would never have stayed in Cleveland. If I had never stayed in Cleveland, I would not have met and married Russ. If I had never married Russ, I would have missed out on God's perfect plan.
So the story continues as I ponder on this Valentine's Day how awesome God is to have arranged all that and more.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Thank God for my valentine- my husband, my best friend, and the most wonderful man I know. I can't imagine life without him.
It was at a special missionary service that really cahnged the direction of my life. You see, if God had not called Lance and Maryann Hastings, missionaries to Puerto Rico, to come to Immanuel to speak, then I would never have met Jeff Brown. If I had never met Jeff Brown, I would never had started doing children's ministry. If I had never started doing children's ministry, I would never have changed my major to teaching. If I had never changed my major to teaching, I would never have changed colleges. If I had never changed colleges, I would never have stayed in Cleveland. If I had never stayed in Cleveland, I would not have met and married Russ. If I had never married Russ, I would have missed out on God's perfect plan.
So the story continues as I ponder on this Valentine's Day how awesome God is to have arranged all that and more.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Thank God for my valentine- my husband, my best friend, and the most wonderful man I know. I can't imagine life without him.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Set Free: My Story
Superbowl Sunday, 1996. Not quite 18. Everything changed. I'll never forget that cold day where I rose out of bed to desperately search for an open church. Couldn't go to my Dad's. He'd make a big deal out of it. So, I found this little reformed church next to my high school. I walked in to a half-empty old looking small church with no one I knew. The pastor gets up and says "today is youth day, so the youth will be taking the whole service." Great. I recognize a few teens from my high school-Brooklyn. I didn't really associate with them. I was way too busy cheerleading, singing and doing lots of other important stuff, to hang out with them. Then I noticed Danielle. She was the leader today. I really didn't like her.
She led the youth to do motions to a song. The altar. I was tired. The weight of my life bearing down hard on me. I heard, "that's what this altar is for." Danielle talked. I felt embarrased and shameful of all the sin in my life. I heard "The blood of Jesus will make you white as snow."
Then I saw it. As tears stremed down my face, I saw a big list of everything I had done to offend God. My sins were too numerous to count. Then I saw blood running down each one until the list was gone and clean. I was so happy. I wanted to scream. I felt light and free for the first time.
God used my enemy to talk to me. God made sure I somehow got out of bed and found that church. That day my life did a huge 360.
Danielle looked at me like I can't believe it. My friends said I turned weird. One friend said, "You finally found who you are Jamie." I quit cheerleading. I quit almost everything. Nothing was important to me now. I had to devote my life to the one who touched me that day. I had to tell everyone else that they could be set free too.
'He who the Son sets free is free indeed."
Story to be continued...
She led the youth to do motions to a song. The altar. I was tired. The weight of my life bearing down hard on me. I heard, "that's what this altar is for." Danielle talked. I felt embarrased and shameful of all the sin in my life. I heard "The blood of Jesus will make you white as snow."
Then I saw it. As tears stremed down my face, I saw a big list of everything I had done to offend God. My sins were too numerous to count. Then I saw blood running down each one until the list was gone and clean. I was so happy. I wanted to scream. I felt light and free for the first time.
God used my enemy to talk to me. God made sure I somehow got out of bed and found that church. That day my life did a huge 360.
Danielle looked at me like I can't believe it. My friends said I turned weird. One friend said, "You finally found who you are Jamie." I quit cheerleading. I quit almost everything. Nothing was important to me now. I had to devote my life to the one who touched me that day. I had to tell everyone else that they could be set free too.
'He who the Son sets free is free indeed."
Story to be continued...
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Staying Focused
Wow! What a message tonight by Johanes. Simple, relaxed and matter of factly, it hit me square in the face. Don't get sidetracked. Are you kidding? I walk the zig zag path of life daily. Running to each distraction with passion and leaving it unfinished as I tackle another. The focus=The lost. Wow, when have I prayed for my neighbors last? A kingdom perspective really knocks me off my feet sometimes. I really need to be put back on track. And then he prayed two things that I will pray daily from now on. First, "Lord, I love you more than the applause of people." Then, "Lord, I love you more than the criticism of people". As Sara Groves sings, "I live and I breathe for an audience of One, because I know this journey is my own."
One day when I stand before God, I want to make sure I did my part to add to the kingdom of God. Its overwhelming to feel the weight of the lost souls on your heart. Then I remember what Russ preached this morning. In my weakness, He is strong. God's Spirit saves people, not me. So I lay down all of the lost family and friends and kids and hurting people in Sharpsburg and in Pittsburgh and people all over the world in countries I wish I could go to and tell. For those who have not yet experienced the awesome love and freedom of a Saviour, and I give them to God. I can't do it alone. No one can.
So I pray I will not get sidetracked by TV, food, sleep, materialism, and laziness and continue to fight the good fight and to answer the call. No matter what.
One day when I stand before God, I want to make sure I did my part to add to the kingdom of God. Its overwhelming to feel the weight of the lost souls on your heart. Then I remember what Russ preached this morning. In my weakness, He is strong. God's Spirit saves people, not me. So I lay down all of the lost family and friends and kids and hurting people in Sharpsburg and in Pittsburgh and people all over the world in countries I wish I could go to and tell. For those who have not yet experienced the awesome love and freedom of a Saviour, and I give them to God. I can't do it alone. No one can.
So I pray I will not get sidetracked by TV, food, sleep, materialism, and laziness and continue to fight the good fight and to answer the call. No matter what.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Boring Day
Today I was so exhausted I didn't want to do anything...It's days like these I wonder if I grew or learned anything. Probably not. I just wanted to sleep all day but of course that is a dream. So it's almost ten and I think I'll finally get my shut eye. Now the question remains to sleep in or swim at 6 am. It is so tempting in this dreary, grey,rainy winter to just stay in bed and forget my resolution to feel great-but I can't. I'll swim.
Whenever I get into the pool, I start at the deep end. I dive in and swim as fast as I can to get warm quicker. I can't help the huge smile and sometimes giddy laughter that I experience every time I do this. I love to swim. Immediately I feel free and relaxed. It is one of my most favorite things to do. I swim kid laps now. In sets of five, I swim a lap for Greg, then a lap for Shelby , then Rachel, then Danielle, and Justin is my fifth. Then I start over, repeating this 5 times. Each lap I pray for this child and think of them. It really helps me keep track of laps and I get to pray for each child as well. Last swim I prayed the prayer of Jabez for each kid.
I will not be bored tomorrw. I will seek to hear from God better. Enjoy my kids better. And beat myself up less for not accomplishing everthing on my agenda. So onto tomorrow.
Whenever I get into the pool, I start at the deep end. I dive in and swim as fast as I can to get warm quicker. I can't help the huge smile and sometimes giddy laughter that I experience every time I do this. I love to swim. Immediately I feel free and relaxed. It is one of my most favorite things to do. I swim kid laps now. In sets of five, I swim a lap for Greg, then a lap for Shelby , then Rachel, then Danielle, and Justin is my fifth. Then I start over, repeating this 5 times. Each lap I pray for this child and think of them. It really helps me keep track of laps and I get to pray for each child as well. Last swim I prayed the prayer of Jabez for each kid.
I will not be bored tomorrw. I will seek to hear from God better. Enjoy my kids better. And beat myself up less for not accomplishing everthing on my agenda. So onto tomorrow.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Family Pics
Poor Justin-getting dressed pretty already. Rachel Ready for Rainbows. Danielle finally giving in to a nap. Ice skating at PPG. Lastly, Greg and his homemade afro(brocolli) and pick.
Finding the computer
I really enjoy blogging. I just wish someone could follow me around all day and take notes. I think of so many things I want to write, but finding time to get to a computer never seems to come around. I guess that's why they have mobile blogging. My phone doesn't do that. I'm still learning how to text. The computer is so close, but so far away..and usually being used by OTHER people.
I hate being sick. Because even when you get better, your really not at full speed. It's like I am going at his huge pace-running, running, then stop- sickness befalls me. Well to get back in pace, I have to warm up first(make a bed), then jog a little(a couple loads of laundry) before I get back to high speed(beds, baths, dinner, lots more laundry...). That process took seven days. One week and I feel so behind.
So its Monday and I started it out right, with a great swim and some biking and toning too. It feels great.Even though exercise takes work, it actually gives me more energy.
On Sunday, I started a new sereis in Kids church called Winter Extreme. It was awesome. We decorated the basement like a huge winter wonderland for our pretend XGames, complete with snow, a lit tree, icicle lights and more. It was so fun wearing a snow suit to worship in. Greg(my son) played our new character "Frankie Frost" who does cool snowboarding tricks each week.
This week the lesson was about how we can listen to God and know lots of stuff, but if we don't obey and do what God says, its useless. My kids can listen to me, but obeying takes it a step further. I am praying for a great Sunday this week as we have our annual BIG RED DAY! Its one of the funnest days of the year. I am beieving God to bring back lots of kids! We actually turn the entire basement red, we all wear red, prizes are red, the story is red and everyone goes home with a pack of Big Red.
We are also getting ready to finish a four week sexual abstience program in Velocity (our youth group). Its called Silver Ring Thing(for those of you who have heard or SRT). I am so excited to see fourty kids make the commitment to stay pure until marriage. We have a big event planned for next Tuesday where their parents are invited to come and support them.
So much is going on at our church, I have to keep asking the pastor what's going on. He told me it helps to read the planner. There's a lot of good information in there.
Lastly, please pray for my friend Carol who is 39 weeks and about to pop!
I hate being sick. Because even when you get better, your really not at full speed. It's like I am going at his huge pace-running, running, then stop- sickness befalls me. Well to get back in pace, I have to warm up first(make a bed), then jog a little(a couple loads of laundry) before I get back to high speed(beds, baths, dinner, lots more laundry...). That process took seven days. One week and I feel so behind.
So its Monday and I started it out right, with a great swim and some biking and toning too. It feels great.Even though exercise takes work, it actually gives me more energy.
On Sunday, I started a new sereis in Kids church called Winter Extreme. It was awesome. We decorated the basement like a huge winter wonderland for our pretend XGames, complete with snow, a lit tree, icicle lights and more. It was so fun wearing a snow suit to worship in. Greg(my son) played our new character "Frankie Frost" who does cool snowboarding tricks each week.
This week the lesson was about how we can listen to God and know lots of stuff, but if we don't obey and do what God says, its useless. My kids can listen to me, but obeying takes it a step further. I am praying for a great Sunday this week as we have our annual BIG RED DAY! Its one of the funnest days of the year. I am beieving God to bring back lots of kids! We actually turn the entire basement red, we all wear red, prizes are red, the story is red and everyone goes home with a pack of Big Red.
We are also getting ready to finish a four week sexual abstience program in Velocity (our youth group). Its called Silver Ring Thing(for those of you who have heard or SRT). I am so excited to see fourty kids make the commitment to stay pure until marriage. We have a big event planned for next Tuesday where their parents are invited to come and support them.
So much is going on at our church, I have to keep asking the pastor what's going on. He told me it helps to read the planner. There's a lot of good information in there.
Lastly, please pray for my friend Carol who is 39 weeks and about to pop!
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