Busy is an understatement...

Do not adjust your screen. This is not an illusion. Yes, my Red Bull can is practically the size of my head.

And that's a good thing. :)

It's a good thing because yes, I may be tired sometimes and yes, my calendar for the next several months is ridiculously full...but it's full with so many exciting options that I feel overwhelmingly blessed. 2008 is turning out to be a year full of incredible journeys, experiences and once in a lifetime opportunities. I think that I have walked into probably the most complex "busy season" of my entire life, and I intend to savor every moment of it.

Here are just a few highlights of my adventures to come over the next 6 months:

1. DRIVE - next week I get to play a small role in helping our staff teach over 2100 church leaders from around the country all the in's and out's of how we do ministry...what has worked for us, what hasn't, and most importantly, help equip and encourage them to go back to their parts of the world and create irresistible ministry environments where people can come to learn about God and experience His love and grace. I can't even describe the coolness of this conference - you'd have to see it for yourself.

2. The continual opportunity to pour into the lives of 25 high school girls that i've been leading and tracking with for 3 years now. They're almost juniors, i can't believe it. I'm so honored and humbled (and sometimes terrified) that I get to be a person of influence in their lives. Someone who gets to love them, laugh with them, cry with them and invest in them...and hopefully keep them from making some of the mistakes I have growing up. We get to spend a week at the beach this summer again for our annual camp, The Walk. It's always an incredible time of bonding, sharing and learning. LOVE IT. LOVE THEM. These girls continue to challenge me in ways I could never imagine.

3. The honor of walking alongside and standing at the altar as two of my best friends, Rosie and Cristin marry two amazing men that God has clearly chosen for them. It has been such a privilege and blessing to watch these two extraordinary women meet, fall in love with, and now prepare to share the rest of their lives with such great guys. And I am so blessed to be able to have witnessed all of it. I couldn't be happier for them and I feel so truly honored that they have asked me to be part of their special days!

4. LDR...one of the biggest catalysts in my life four short years ago when I was desperately wanting to get 'connected' and do life with other singles who were on the same page as me. I have met so many people and been touched by some incredible communicators who have taught me and challenged me...and now i'm blessed to get to be on the planning side of this event. I'm always so excited that I get to be creative and help put this event together with my dear friends in mind - knowing that it's such a great weekend for connecting and growing. Just plain awesome.

5. And for this last one, I barely have words. I'm completely blown away by the fact that God is going to use me to hopefully play a small role in helping connect college ministries for students on the other side of the world. This year I will be traveling to Australia. Not once, but twice! I'll be part of a team that's leading the Sydney leg of the Passion World Tour. I could write an entire book on this, but i'll just wet your appetite for now. MUCH more on this in blogs to come.

Fasten your seatbelts folks, it's about to be a crazy ride. And i'm rollin' full speed with the top down...care to join me? ;)


Jamie

What's A Girl To-Do?

If you don't see or hear from me over the next 5-7 days, this is why...


That's my to-do list for the next few days. Yes, it's long but i'm super excited about every single event on there. And yes, it's blurred for a reason. We can't be letting out ALL our secrets for the cool stuff at 7|22 that is coming down the pipes soon....you'll just have to wait and find out!

But trust me...you DON'T want to miss it.

Jamie

Don't spoil your dinner...

I remember one Saturday afternoon when I was about 10, I came in from playing outside all day and I was starving. It was late afternoon, and mom was already at work in the kitchen beginning to prepare dinner. I asked her if I could have a snack but of course, her answer was an emphatic "no, you'll spoil your dinner."

I almost walked away in defeat, but my stomach wouldn't take no for an answer. Inevitably I began to nag my mom, confidently proclaiming that I would just die or at best, wither away to nothing if I had to wait a whole hour for dinner. Afterall, I knew best the needs of the stomach that was attached to me, not her. The more I begged, the more frustrated she became until she eventually said ok, knowing full well what was going to happen.

With the green light in my court I proceeded to help myself to a rather sizable amount of junk food, undoubtedly stuffing myself silly and meeting my seemingly "urgent" need for sustenance. Shortly thereafter, mom called us down for dinner. Wouldn't you know, she had made my favorite -mom's world famous (ok, maybe not world famous...but it sure is #1 in my book) spaghetti. Just the sight of it though made my full little stomach ache. I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to put one single bite of that in my mouth without getting sick.

My mom was right, I had spoiled my dinner.

At first I was just sad because I was missing out on something great, something I loved. And then I felt guilty, when I saw the look on my mom's face...she had worked hard to prepare a good meal for us, something far better for me than all the chips and cookies I filled myself up on, and what did I do? I wasted it.

I thought about this moment today, and it made me wonder...how many times have I done that to God? How many times do I want something so badly, that I beg and plead with Him until He gives me what I want, knowing all along what I will miss out on as a result - rather than waiting for something better that He is preparing for me? He created me, why do I sometimes lose sight of the fact that He knows my every need, and knows when they need to be met?

I'm not sure I really know the answer to that. Maybe it's the fact that we live in a "get it faster" society. Maybe it's the fact that patience is often a learned trait for me - I don't always execute it naturally. Maybe it's because we live in a fallen world and we are all tempted by the enemy who knows our weaknesses.

Maybe it's none of these.

Maybe it's all of them.

Lord, it is my sincere prayer today that you withhold from me selfish or impetuous desires that I might 'think' I want for my life right now, especially if receiving the means that I might miss out on an opportunity to better glorify or serve Your kingdom. I ask that in times when I want something before you're finished preparing it for me, don't just tell me no...shoo me out of the kitchen. :)


Jamie

Reason #153 why I love my job...

For my readers who have ventured over from other blogs and who don't know me, I work at a church. Yes, I said a church. It might not be obvious from the video above, but it's the truth. I work at Buckhead Church, a campus of North Point Community Church. We are located right in the heart of Buckhead and I love it.

I love that I get to serve God for a living. I love that I get to serve my friends. I love that I get to serve the community. I'll admit, sometimes I feel guilty for loving my job so much. I love the fact that although we work hard, we are also encouraged to play hard, have fun, and build community. I feel so fortunate to have a job that I love, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?



Jamie

Music Videos: Part II

Ok, yes I have noticed that there is a bit of a boy band theme for my last two posts, but I couldn't help posting our latest video....just some fun with the girls a few weeks back. What can I say, we may be drifting out of our 20's, but we're never too old to shake a tailfeather...

The Year of Reunions

Ok, so believe it or not, my 10 year high school reunion is coming up in just 2 short months. Yes. I know. You can't believe that it's my 10 year reunion because I look like I'm still in college, right? (well, at least humor me anyways...i'm a girl, we don't like to feel old) ;)

But I did find out one thing today that made me feel a little like a kid again...


That's right...my boys are reuniting and they've all grown up...


Looks like the years have been good to 'em. Can't wait to bust out a few of my NKOTB dance moves, no matter how silly I look...I mean, hey, who says you can't reminisce? I have a history with these boys. Finally got to meet Jordan (cough cough, at age 25, cough cough) That's me on the left (I am a recovering blonde)


And who could forget the fact that these boys are the inspiration to many of our musical video musings...



So here's to you Danny, Donnie, Jordan, Joey-Joe and Jon...you may have been "Hangin' Tough" over the past 10 years, but "Step by Step" you've shown us that you've still got "The Right Stuff."

Signed,
Your #1 Fan

Jamie