Winbourne Ave. Baptist Church clean-up day

It feels like forever since I’ve blogged, but I’ve been crazy busy these last couple of weeks!!  This past weekend was definitely one of the best weekends in a while.  Friday night was Late Nite Live…a night of great worship – and a little tailgating HPC style!  Then Saturday morning, an enormous group of about 300 volunteers all met at the Winbourne Ave. Baptist Church to clean-up the facility.  I was completely in awe of the place!  It’s HUGE!  And when I say HUGE, I MEAN GIGANTIC!!  It’s amazing how God orchestrated the connection between our church (HPC) and Winbourne Ave.  Not only will the new Winbourne Ave. Baptist church be used as a dreamcenter, it will also house mothers with children that have no place to go.  AMAZING! Check out the last paragraph of the church covenant hanging in the hallway of the church:

“We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and principles of God’s Word.” 

The best part for me was volunteering alongside the greatest dad in the whole world! My dad amazes me and really is my hero.  He has always been the best dad I could ever ask for.  He is one of those guys that will do just about anything you ask…a true SERVANT.  I guess that’s where I get my instinct to serve.  I really don’t think there’s anything better than serving your local church with the ones you love.  I am so proud of my dad.  He is such an inspiration to me and has always been so supportive in anything I’ve ever done.  I love that he’s an optimist…I can’t stand negativity.  His courage is like none other!! He left his job a few years ago to start his own business-completely trusting in God-while supporting a family of 5 (my sister was already married).  That takes a lot of courage.  But his faith and trust in God paid off, and now, with the company doing great, he spends his spare time serving in Cooking For Christ at HPC (the pic above is from an outreach he did a while back.  Doesn’t suprise me though!  He has always been a great cook!!

So, dad, if you read this, just know that I love you more than anything in the world.  I wouldn’t be the person I am had it not been for your guidance and unconditional love throughout my life.  You are a great example of what a Godly father, husband, leader and servant should be.  I hope to be like you one day when I grow up! Haha!!  Actually, I am just like my dad…

Oh, and to top it all off…Bobby Jindal won along with our LSU Tigers!  What a weekend!! 

This pic is my whole family serving at an outreach in New Orleans a while back.

Vision Night this Sunday!

Just a reminder about Vision Night this Sunday night at the Highland Campus.  Pre-game starts at 6:00 p.m.  You don’t want to miss it!!

David Crowder Part II

I forgot to post the “adventure” we all had at the David Crowder Band concert last week!  How could I forget?!  My friend Steven Stogner, a.k.a. Stogie, got his truck towed!  Not 20 minutes after we exited the vehicle!!  We parked in this parking lot that had signs “no parking” but there were other cars, and all of us girls had a “feeling” we would be ok!  We were so wrong!  We got out of the truck, walked to the box office to pick up our tickets, and shortly after, Stogie got a call from a friend who had seen his truck on the back of a tow truck!  I thought it was a joke!  Man, did we girls feel bad!

After the concert, Stogie took a cab from the House of Blues to the spot where his truck was towed and when he got there, the guy told him they didn’t take credit/debit cards…it had to be CASH!  Stogie had to WALK almost a mile to an ATM to get cash!  $150 later, Stogie got his truck back!  The night was quite an adventure!!  He’s such a trooper though. He is an awesome guy with a huge heart…in fact, he told us he wanted to drive so that we wouldn’t waste OUR gas…such a gentleman!!

Here’s a couple more pics from the night…

David Crowder Band concert

 So, last Wednesday, me, Kristin, Natalie, and a few others went to the David Crowder Band concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans.  I’ve been to a DCB concert here in Baton Rouge at a church on Florida Blvd. a few years ago and honestly, I was more than excited to go, but I didn’t think it would be the same as when I saw them at the church.  I figured it would be more like a concert instead of a worship experience like before.

Well, it was better than I could have ever imagined! The stage and lighting was so cool, but the presence of God was in that bar so strong that night! Of course, they only sold soft drinks and bottled water, and no smoking or photography was allowed…the bar was literally transformed into a Holy place!! What’s so evident with David Crowder is his heart for God. I know immediately if a singer’s heart is right and focused on God (not on themselves looking good) if I walk into the environment and sense God’s presence. 

David Crowder’s performance was amazing as usual, the new songs/lyrics were more meaningful than ever (he’s got a great new song about the Grace of God!), but more importantly was his ability to usher in God’s presence.  He is truly a man after God’s own heart…and he urged everyone in the crowd to play a part in helping our community, to help hurting people…to have compassion on those less fortunate.  It was a 5-minute version of the message Pastor Dino had just preached last Sunday on Social Injustice!! As I stood on the balcony and looked across the huge crowd of people, I was overcome with the thought that ALL OF THESE PEOPLE are here, in a bar, and worshipping God!! How cool is that? I just thanked God for the opportunity and freedom to worship Him, anytime, and in any place-even a bar!! I bet the devil was pretty mad that night! But it doesn’t get much better than that!!

Some of my favorite quotes…

Just wanted to post some of my favorite quotes…hope you like them!

“The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the pain you’re unwilling to go through.” -Unknown

“God will never ask you to give something or He’ll never put a dream in your heart without first equipping you with everything you need on the inside to accomplish it.” -Joel Osteen

“Your character is what you really are. Your reputation is only what others think you are.” -John Wooden

“Never ever settle for second best!” -My mom

“Jello?! Why would he want jello?”"Because he’s comfortable with jello! Jello makes him comfortable.”

“YOU could never be jello. No, you are Creme Brule and Creme Brule can never be jello. You’re never gonna be jello!”

-From the movie, “My Best Friend’s Wedding”