HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Carve-o-rama!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
7|22 is HERE!
What a night! Once again I was blown away by God's goodness. I'll admit, I honestly probably underestimated God's ability a little to "bring it" on our first night, because I was really only expecting us to start out with about 500 people. I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear and do a little happy dance as I stood in the back of the auditorium looking at 1300+ SINGLE ADULTS (finally! no offense, high schoolers and college kids...we love ya, but well, you know). The music was amazing, the teaching was excellent...all in all I feel like the night was a success!
(there was this one little hiccup called parking, but I PROMISE we're working on making that better for next time!)
Can't wait to see what God has in store for next month! If you missed October, you don't want to miss the next one! November 13th...be there....it will be worth all the parking hassle. :)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Is it morning yet?
It's exactly 2:40am. I have probably a 15 hour work day ahead of me tomorrow. Any other idiot in my shoes would be sound asleep long ago. But not this idiot. :) I can't tell if i'm still awake because i'm overwhelmed looking at my to-do list, or if it's because i'm so incredibly excited for what's going down tomorrow. (or maybe it was the Red Bull I drank at 7pm...nah, that wore off long ago) I feel like it's Christmas Eve, but instead of being excited about waking up for Christmas tomorrow, i'm actually excited about waking up and going to work. Wait....what? Did those words just come out of my mouth? Yes they did, and i'll tell you why...
To update those friends that I might not have talked to in a while, about a year ago I fell into my dream job. No, i'm not a rockstar. (but maybe one day) I'm talking about the job where what i'm passionate about and what i'm good at collide. A place where my job revloves around serving people and helping them grow in their walk with Christ. A place where I get to use my creativity in ways that I never imagined I would be able to at the workplace. A place where my co-workers are like family, and I actually speak to them (sometimes more) when i'm off the clock. I've been so incredibly blessed to be able to say that I get paid to do something that I love to do...serve Jesus and everyone around me. There has not been a single day in the past year that I have not thanked God for my job.
At the beginning of the year, my pastor Andy preached a sermon about "praying big." We were challenged to pick something that was beyond us, something huge, and pray for it daily. Little did he know that I had already been doing that for the past three months...his message was just additional confirmation for me that I was to continue to be a prayer warrior for this big dream that I had.
My dream was for 7|22, the singles ministry that I work for, to burst onto the scene in the city of Atlanta, to meet the singles population where they are, and to impact them all for the Glory of God. Our whole team has felt it for some time - that if we REALLY wanted to be able to dig in deep into this massive population of singles that are continually flooding to the Atlanta area, we had to be close to them. We had to get in where they work, where they live, where they play. (collectively I should say "I", since I fall into that population as well) We knew that the perfect location was in progress to open in the near future, and we knew that we had to be there. Of course, that's much easier said than done. There are sooo many details and logistics to work out that I could bore you for hours with the details (but seeing as it is almost 3am and I have to be up in 3 hours, i'll spare us both). Some of these details we're still trying to figure out at this very moment.
But the time has finally arrived, and we will open our doors tomorrow for the first 7|22 in Buckhead. A day that felt like it was years away just a few short months ago. We know the potential that we have to create an environment where God can show up in a HUGE way. We also know that we have the potential to completely crash and burn. (let's pray for the first option) :) I have every confidence that God is going to show up in a big way tomorrow..He's been doing it all along. I just continue to pray that our team will be good stewards of the time and resources He has provided to us. We can always show up and put on a great "production," anyone can do that - the challenge lies in allowing God to plan out our steps for us...for us to create a space for Him to show up, no matter what that looks like. It may mean things being completely different each time we meet...it may mean trying something and failing miserably a few times before we get it right....but whatever it means, its important that we're ready and willing to follow His path for what is best for our singles community.
That's an added bonus to my job. Not only am I serving God and the singles around me, but a lot of those singles happen to be my friends. What a joy it is to be able to play a small role in encouraging growth in their faith. Again, I am so truly grateful for every day that I am allowed to do this.
So pray for our team...for guidance, wisdom and endurance (and maybe some sleep next week...its going to be a looong day). Pray for the single adults that are going to walk through those doors tomorrow...some will know Jesus and some wont - we must love them all alike, just as Christ loves us. Pray for smooth parking...its a big hairy beast we're still trying to work out (be patient with us!)...and most importantly, pray that God shows up in an amazing way. He always does.
Oh, and check out our new website....722.org. We've been working our bootys off re-designing the entire thing, and i'm not gonna lie, its pretty awesome, and i'm pretty darn proud of it. Enjoy!
To update those friends that I might not have talked to in a while, about a year ago I fell into my dream job. No, i'm not a rockstar. (but maybe one day) I'm talking about the job where what i'm passionate about and what i'm good at collide. A place where my job revloves around serving people and helping them grow in their walk with Christ. A place where I get to use my creativity in ways that I never imagined I would be able to at the workplace. A place where my co-workers are like family, and I actually speak to them (sometimes more) when i'm off the clock. I've been so incredibly blessed to be able to say that I get paid to do something that I love to do...serve Jesus and everyone around me. There has not been a single day in the past year that I have not thanked God for my job.
At the beginning of the year, my pastor Andy preached a sermon about "praying big." We were challenged to pick something that was beyond us, something huge, and pray for it daily. Little did he know that I had already been doing that for the past three months...his message was just additional confirmation for me that I was to continue to be a prayer warrior for this big dream that I had.
My dream was for 7|22, the singles ministry that I work for, to burst onto the scene in the city of Atlanta, to meet the singles population where they are, and to impact them all for the Glory of God. Our whole team has felt it for some time - that if we REALLY wanted to be able to dig in deep into this massive population of singles that are continually flooding to the Atlanta area, we had to be close to them. We had to get in where they work, where they live, where they play. (collectively I should say "I", since I fall into that population as well) We knew that the perfect location was in progress to open in the near future, and we knew that we had to be there. Of course, that's much easier said than done. There are sooo many details and logistics to work out that I could bore you for hours with the details (but seeing as it is almost 3am and I have to be up in 3 hours, i'll spare us both). Some of these details we're still trying to figure out at this very moment.
But the time has finally arrived, and we will open our doors tomorrow for the first 7|22 in Buckhead. A day that felt like it was years away just a few short months ago. We know the potential that we have to create an environment where God can show up in a HUGE way. We also know that we have the potential to completely crash and burn. (let's pray for the first option) :) I have every confidence that God is going to show up in a big way tomorrow..He's been doing it all along. I just continue to pray that our team will be good stewards of the time and resources He has provided to us. We can always show up and put on a great "production," anyone can do that - the challenge lies in allowing God to plan out our steps for us...for us to create a space for Him to show up, no matter what that looks like. It may mean things being completely different each time we meet...it may mean trying something and failing miserably a few times before we get it right....but whatever it means, its important that we're ready and willing to follow His path for what is best for our singles community.
That's an added bonus to my job. Not only am I serving God and the singles around me, but a lot of those singles happen to be my friends. What a joy it is to be able to play a small role in encouraging growth in their faith. Again, I am so truly grateful for every day that I am allowed to do this.
So pray for our team...for guidance, wisdom and endurance (and maybe some sleep next week...its going to be a looong day). Pray for the single adults that are going to walk through those doors tomorrow...some will know Jesus and some wont - we must love them all alike, just as Christ loves us. Pray for smooth parking...its a big hairy beast we're still trying to work out (be patient with us!)...and most importantly, pray that God shows up in an amazing way. He always does.
Oh, and check out our new website....722.org. We've been working our bootys off re-designing the entire thing, and i'm not gonna lie, its pretty awesome, and i'm pretty darn proud of it. Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Well done, good and faithful servant (A tribute to Billie James Waddy)
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy reigns;
Unending love
Amazing Grace
It's been a long and emotional week. The day that i've been both praying for and dreading for some time has finally come to pass...on Saturday I said goodbye to my Grandaddy. It's been an absolute miracle that he has even been with us this long - especially after two years ago when the doctors called us into the hospital and told us that we needed to start making "arrangements" because he wouldn't be coming home. But God had other plans. After months in a rehabilitation facility Grandaddy, although bedridden, did come home...I know that's where he wanted to be all along.
For the two years that followed, my grandmother stayed by his side day and night - often spoon feeding him three meals a day - and doing whatever was necessary to make him comfortable. No matter what condition he was in, Grandaddy would always smile and light up when one of us came in the room, but there was always a special sparkle in his eyes when he looked at his precious bride. In his last few weeks on earth, I witnessed one of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking moments of my life. Grandaddy had been having a hard time breathing, so my aunt and I were helping give him some breathing treatments. He really didn't like the mask being on his face, and he fought with us a little bit, so my grandmother had to hold his hands down while we gave him the treatment. Even as he struggled with each breath, I watched as he looked over at my grandmother, smiled through the breathing mask, and began raising his eyebrows at her...even through all of that, he was still trying to flirt with his wife! My heart wept with sadness at the pain she had to watch him endure, but it also wept with joy in witnessing a love that was still strong after 62 years of marriage. That night I finally learned what it was like to stop selfishly praying for him to stay with us, and start praying for rest for his weary body and soul. God gave me a peace that although the end was near, it was all part of His ultimate plan.
A week ago as I packed for a three day camp with my high school girls, I knew that there was a good possibility Grandaddy might not make it through the weekend. I felt so torn, wanting so desperately to be there for Grandaddy, Grandmommie, my dad and family, but also knowing that I very much needed to be there for my 18 girls that had given up their weekend to learn more about their relationship with God. I once again selfishly prayed that God would just let Grandaddy hold on until I got home Sunday night (even though I trust God, I still secretly hoped things would go how I wanted). I began to fear my cell phone, afraid to look at the caller id every time it rang that weekend, terrified that I would get "the phone call," and on Saturday Sept. 29th at 6pm, I did. Dad called just before we all went into dinner and calmly told me that Grandaddy was gone. I barely made it back to the cabin before I lost it. I sobbed for what seemed like an eternity filled with heartache over losing someone who had played such a major role in my life, and then later crying out rejoicing - relieved for the freedom I knew he had so deservingly earned.
I immediately wanted to jump in my car and come home, but Dad said to stay - and I felt my heavenly father telling me to do the same. Even though every bone in my body wanted to grieve with my family, I knew too that there was a reason I was still with my girls. We went into session that night and as I began to listen to the words of a familiar song, I found myself (along with all my amazing high school girls) jumping, smiling and yelling out these words of praise to God...
When I stand in that place,
Free at last, meeting face to face;
I am yours Jesus, you are mine.
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive....HE'S ALIVE!!
I knew in that moment exaclty why I was not home when Grandaddy left. Had I been home, I probably would have cried and grieved and wallowed in my own self pity and selfishness of losing a great man, but God wouldn't let me. He made it poignantly clear that this was a time to celebrate...for another one of His precious children had completed his work. All praise be to Jesus!
The week that followed brought with it a roller coaster of emotions. As we planned out every meticulous detail of his memorial service, we began to go through box after box of pictures and mementos...laughing out loud at some of the funny stories that they brought to mind, and crying over some as well. I knew that I had one final act of service to complete for Grandaddy...I had to remember him at his memorial service on Saturday.
I'm a writer, by hobby and passion, however this was the absolute hardest thing I have ever had to write. I stared at my computer screen for hours, not even knowing where to begin. I'm sure it's not the most perfectly composed speech, but I think Grandaddy would have liked it...
My Memorial Service Tribute to Billie James Waddy
When I sat down to write out what I wanted to say today…I got stuck. I had no idea how to even attempt to sum up Grandaddy’s life in just a few paragraphs. And then I realized, I didn’t have to. It occurred to me that everyone in this room is here because in some form or fashion, your lives were touched by this great man. We all knew and loved him, and each of us have our own unique stories we could tell about the mark he’s left in our lives. So I’d like to share a few of my favorite memories that always make me smile. (and sometimes laugh out loud) ☺
I believe that when we leave this earth, we each leave behind a legacy…something that is passed down through generations. And when I think about Grandaddy’s legacy, three words come to mind: Learn, Laugh and Love.
Learn
I think of the word learn, because even my earliest of memories revolve around Grandaddy teaching me something. He was a great historian and the ultimate storyteller…both qualities that I came to appreciate more as I grew older. I can remember as a child Grandaddy loved to take us to different historical museums or battlefields, and he always threw in a story or two of his own days in the military. And I can remember in high school I had to write a paper on our family history – Grandaddy sat with me for hours going through old pictures, and stories and page after page of the family tree…he was determined that I’d get an A on that paper, and I did.
Now I don’t know if this really counts as “learning”, but he did teach me all of the best card tricks he knew, so if you want to get stumped at a card game, come see me…
Laugh
The second word that comes to mind is the one that holds the most memories for me…laugh. If you knew Grandaddy for even five minutes, you knew one thing about him…he LOVED to laugh. He was the ultimate prankster, and in fact – more times than not, when he told stories about the jokes he pulled, he would laugh at himself just as hard as the person he was telling the story to. Just the other day, Carol was telling me that when she was a teenager, Grandaddy would wait until she got in the shower, had just enough time to get shampoo in her hair, then he would sneak around the outside of the house and shut off the water...but she knew exactly who did it…and he would laugh hysterically as he heard her yelling at him all the way from inside the house. That’s just one of the many MANY prank stories we could all tell…in fact, I’m positive that if there’s a way he could play a prank on us from Heaven…he’d surely find a way to do it.
A lot of my favorite memories that make me laugh all revolve around family vacations at the lake. Grandaddy loved to camp and he loved to fish. I think that most of the time he was the only adult that was ever brave enough to swim in the muddy lake water with all of us kids. Julie and I were laughing the other day about how he could do this thing with his hands and pelt you with a squirt of water from 20 feet away. No one was safe from the aim of Grandaddy’s handmade water pistol. Inevitably at some point on the camping trip, one of us kids would get a scrape or a cut, and then it was Dr. Waddy to the rescue. He would bring out his first aid kit that he always carried around with him, and we would run and hide because we knew that whatever he put on it was going to sting. But he’d fix us up, and we’d be on our way.
There was, however, a time or two that we had to “doctor” Dr. Waddy…like the time that he and dad went out fishing in the boat, and they came back with dad’s fish hook in Grandaddy’s lip. One trip to the emergency room later, I think he was the only calm person in the entire place…including the ER nurses. He just smiled and laughed it off…not worried at all.
Love
The third word that exemplifies Grandaddy’s legacy is love. When you spend enough time with a person, you begin to realize what’s most important in their lives. To Grandaddy, that was love…love for his family, love for his country, and most importantly, love for his savior. He was a dedicated veteran, active in his church, and a committed spiritual leader to his family. (Although, we could always determine how hungry he was by how long or short his blessing was over the meal.)
One of my favorite quotes says “you don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” I feel like God has blessed us abundantly by allowing us to be a small part of Grandaddy’s life. I will carry his love and legacy with me always.
Ecclesiastes 3 says “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
I believe today is a time to dance and rejoice in a glorious homecoming for a beloved child of God.
I love you, Grandaddy...can't wait to give you a big hug again one day.
Billie James Waddy
December 26, 1924 - September 29, 2007
Decorated war hero, son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, loving husband and devoted man of God.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy reigns;
Unending love
Amazing Grace
It's been a long and emotional week. The day that i've been both praying for and dreading for some time has finally come to pass...on Saturday I said goodbye to my Grandaddy. It's been an absolute miracle that he has even been with us this long - especially after two years ago when the doctors called us into the hospital and told us that we needed to start making "arrangements" because he wouldn't be coming home. But God had other plans. After months in a rehabilitation facility Grandaddy, although bedridden, did come home...I know that's where he wanted to be all along.
For the two years that followed, my grandmother stayed by his side day and night - often spoon feeding him three meals a day - and doing whatever was necessary to make him comfortable. No matter what condition he was in, Grandaddy would always smile and light up when one of us came in the room, but there was always a special sparkle in his eyes when he looked at his precious bride. In his last few weeks on earth, I witnessed one of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking moments of my life. Grandaddy had been having a hard time breathing, so my aunt and I were helping give him some breathing treatments. He really didn't like the mask being on his face, and he fought with us a little bit, so my grandmother had to hold his hands down while we gave him the treatment. Even as he struggled with each breath, I watched as he looked over at my grandmother, smiled through the breathing mask, and began raising his eyebrows at her...even through all of that, he was still trying to flirt with his wife! My heart wept with sadness at the pain she had to watch him endure, but it also wept with joy in witnessing a love that was still strong after 62 years of marriage. That night I finally learned what it was like to stop selfishly praying for him to stay with us, and start praying for rest for his weary body and soul. God gave me a peace that although the end was near, it was all part of His ultimate plan.
A week ago as I packed for a three day camp with my high school girls, I knew that there was a good possibility Grandaddy might not make it through the weekend. I felt so torn, wanting so desperately to be there for Grandaddy, Grandmommie, my dad and family, but also knowing that I very much needed to be there for my 18 girls that had given up their weekend to learn more about their relationship with God. I once again selfishly prayed that God would just let Grandaddy hold on until I got home Sunday night (even though I trust God, I still secretly hoped things would go how I wanted). I began to fear my cell phone, afraid to look at the caller id every time it rang that weekend, terrified that I would get "the phone call," and on Saturday Sept. 29th at 6pm, I did. Dad called just before we all went into dinner and calmly told me that Grandaddy was gone. I barely made it back to the cabin before I lost it. I sobbed for what seemed like an eternity filled with heartache over losing someone who had played such a major role in my life, and then later crying out rejoicing - relieved for the freedom I knew he had so deservingly earned.
I immediately wanted to jump in my car and come home, but Dad said to stay - and I felt my heavenly father telling me to do the same. Even though every bone in my body wanted to grieve with my family, I knew too that there was a reason I was still with my girls. We went into session that night and as I began to listen to the words of a familiar song, I found myself (along with all my amazing high school girls) jumping, smiling and yelling out these words of praise to God...
When I stand in that place,
Free at last, meeting face to face;
I am yours Jesus, you are mine.
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive....HE'S ALIVE!!
I knew in that moment exaclty why I was not home when Grandaddy left. Had I been home, I probably would have cried and grieved and wallowed in my own self pity and selfishness of losing a great man, but God wouldn't let me. He made it poignantly clear that this was a time to celebrate...for another one of His precious children had completed his work. All praise be to Jesus!
The week that followed brought with it a roller coaster of emotions. As we planned out every meticulous detail of his memorial service, we began to go through box after box of pictures and mementos...laughing out loud at some of the funny stories that they brought to mind, and crying over some as well. I knew that I had one final act of service to complete for Grandaddy...I had to remember him at his memorial service on Saturday.
I'm a writer, by hobby and passion, however this was the absolute hardest thing I have ever had to write. I stared at my computer screen for hours, not even knowing where to begin. I'm sure it's not the most perfectly composed speech, but I think Grandaddy would have liked it...
My Memorial Service Tribute to Billie James Waddy
When I sat down to write out what I wanted to say today…I got stuck. I had no idea how to even attempt to sum up Grandaddy’s life in just a few paragraphs. And then I realized, I didn’t have to. It occurred to me that everyone in this room is here because in some form or fashion, your lives were touched by this great man. We all knew and loved him, and each of us have our own unique stories we could tell about the mark he’s left in our lives. So I’d like to share a few of my favorite memories that always make me smile. (and sometimes laugh out loud) ☺
I believe that when we leave this earth, we each leave behind a legacy…something that is passed down through generations. And when I think about Grandaddy’s legacy, three words come to mind: Learn, Laugh and Love.
Learn
I think of the word learn, because even my earliest of memories revolve around Grandaddy teaching me something. He was a great historian and the ultimate storyteller…both qualities that I came to appreciate more as I grew older. I can remember as a child Grandaddy loved to take us to different historical museums or battlefields, and he always threw in a story or two of his own days in the military. And I can remember in high school I had to write a paper on our family history – Grandaddy sat with me for hours going through old pictures, and stories and page after page of the family tree…he was determined that I’d get an A on that paper, and I did.
Now I don’t know if this really counts as “learning”, but he did teach me all of the best card tricks he knew, so if you want to get stumped at a card game, come see me…
Laugh
The second word that comes to mind is the one that holds the most memories for me…laugh. If you knew Grandaddy for even five minutes, you knew one thing about him…he LOVED to laugh. He was the ultimate prankster, and in fact – more times than not, when he told stories about the jokes he pulled, he would laugh at himself just as hard as the person he was telling the story to. Just the other day, Carol was telling me that when she was a teenager, Grandaddy would wait until she got in the shower, had just enough time to get shampoo in her hair, then he would sneak around the outside of the house and shut off the water...but she knew exactly who did it…and he would laugh hysterically as he heard her yelling at him all the way from inside the house. That’s just one of the many MANY prank stories we could all tell…in fact, I’m positive that if there’s a way he could play a prank on us from Heaven…he’d surely find a way to do it.
A lot of my favorite memories that make me laugh all revolve around family vacations at the lake. Grandaddy loved to camp and he loved to fish. I think that most of the time he was the only adult that was ever brave enough to swim in the muddy lake water with all of us kids. Julie and I were laughing the other day about how he could do this thing with his hands and pelt you with a squirt of water from 20 feet away. No one was safe from the aim of Grandaddy’s handmade water pistol. Inevitably at some point on the camping trip, one of us kids would get a scrape or a cut, and then it was Dr. Waddy to the rescue. He would bring out his first aid kit that he always carried around with him, and we would run and hide because we knew that whatever he put on it was going to sting. But he’d fix us up, and we’d be on our way.
There was, however, a time or two that we had to “doctor” Dr. Waddy…like the time that he and dad went out fishing in the boat, and they came back with dad’s fish hook in Grandaddy’s lip. One trip to the emergency room later, I think he was the only calm person in the entire place…including the ER nurses. He just smiled and laughed it off…not worried at all.
Love
The third word that exemplifies Grandaddy’s legacy is love. When you spend enough time with a person, you begin to realize what’s most important in their lives. To Grandaddy, that was love…love for his family, love for his country, and most importantly, love for his savior. He was a dedicated veteran, active in his church, and a committed spiritual leader to his family. (Although, we could always determine how hungry he was by how long or short his blessing was over the meal.)
One of my favorite quotes says “you don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” I feel like God has blessed us abundantly by allowing us to be a small part of Grandaddy’s life. I will carry his love and legacy with me always.
Ecclesiastes 3 says “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
I believe today is a time to dance and rejoice in a glorious homecoming for a beloved child of God.
I love you, Grandaddy...can't wait to give you a big hug again one day.
Billie James Waddy
December 26, 1924 - September 29, 2007
Decorated war hero, son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, loving husband and devoted man of God.
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