Equipped January 25, 2011

Should anyone question God’s faithfulness to His people, check out the story of the Israelites in Exodus where God delivers His people from bondage and provides their every need as the left Egypt. Oh, and a more applicable scenario for Viva La Vida’s readers, look to the lives of those who He calls His children. In our worry, He calms. In our hunger for Him, He feeds. In loneliness, He wraps His people in a blanket of warmth and love. In our brokenness and ailments, He heals and protects. In our longing, He fulfills.

Over months of prayer and hopeful expectation, I have become a prayer warrior. The constant was the potential for a new job. No doubt of my own, God came through in a mighty, mighty way.
This morning I went into the office, with interview questions and answers running sprints through my mind. As I had expected, I took a seat across from the company Chief Financial Officer and the President. But things quickly turn an unforeseen curve. Before my interview began, an offer for employment had been put on the table. I was shocked and surprised and ecstatic and elated and taken aback. Basically, all things jittery and good.

So, the good news is: I have accepted a position as Human Resource Specialist with a large company in Bowling Green. I could not be more enthused about starting this new venture in my life. My new co-workers have welcomed me with open arms. I have met such pleasant people thus far and I have not even stepped foot in the building as an actual employee. I have felt nothing but comfort in being around the company’s higher management and even the company founder.

And you ask – Rebecca, what do you know about HR? And I say, absolutely zilch. Haha. Aside from a little management with school projects and as a Rafferty’s Corporation employee, my expertise is minimal. With all seriousness, this position is going to be a challenge and I am fully aware of the risk that this company is taking by investing in my development in their office. And now it’s my time to step up to the plate and gobble up every ounce of knowledge I come across. I already have SHRM seminars, Western Kentucky University courses and business development consultations in the near future.

This is the endeavor I have waited on. I am ready and eager for the challenge. It’s what I wanted. I prayed for it and God did what He does. He came through. My background and education may not say that I am prepared but God has equipped me for the challenge.

In His Hands January 24, 2011

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:19

As Psalm 20:4 and 145:19 promise, I fully believe that God gives His people desires of the heart that He intends to fulfill. And presently, the desire of my heart is a career where I can thrive, a setting that allows me to be creative and productive, an environment that harvests Christ-centered conversation and is where God calls me to minister to others.

If you have been staying up-to-date with my recent blogging, you know that an opportunity has presented itself. Literally, it has come me. I told God I was available. That I wanted a move. That I was ready if He was. So we made our first move. Two weeks ago, I applied for two positions in BG. The day after sending in those applications, I came to find out that another company was looking at me. The call took me by pleasant surprise.

And since that day, we have been in communication about the opportunity that exists to bring my skills to their need. In the midst of my computer catching a virus, I stressed so much about completing the application process. No need. God provides. God knows what I desire and should it align with His heart, He will be faithful to provide.

Tomorrow morning, I have my second interview with my potential employer and, though my background and my collegiate studies do not match what they are seeking, I am confident that God will see my through the process and equip me for His will.

I pray that He walks with me into the office. He stays seated by my side. His spirit speaks through me and guides my thoughts. I pray that my desires match His and not vice-versa. I pray for a clear mind as I enter the office and for His comfort as my brain is drilled. Haha.

I am in His hands – the safest and most powerful hands in the world.

Prayers, Please? January 16, 2011

So, something big could be happening tomorrow. And because of that, I want to come to you today to ask for your prayers on behalf of a lunch meeting I will be having around 11:30. As I have been heavily involved in a job search, a break came through, in a BIG way.

So, without revealing too much information, I hope that you will join with me to pray around lunch time for several things: for peace about the potential career path, for certainty from the employer and within myself that this is the work environment I should be in, for the CFO and President of the company as they prepare to meet with me, and lastly, if it does not turn out to be a match of my skills with their needs, that I will be comforted in the fact that it was not the place for me to most glorify God in my work. However tomorrow’s lunch meeting turns out, I am confident of my abilities and very eager to see where God’s gifts take me.

Thank you in advance for your prayers. I hope to update you with spectacular news over the next several days. Thanks for keeping up with me and I look forward to the possibilities that may flow from tomorrow’s encounter. YAY!

Something to Live For. January 13, 2011

I just subscribed to SELF Magazine. With my first issue in hand, I am feeling no buyer’s remorse. None whatsoever because I am being more and more motivated with each turn of the page. A special “30 Day SELF Challenge” is included in the first magazine bundle I got in the mail just yesterday. Page 3 sparked an interest with me.

“Today’s Goal: Have a Mission.”

Seems simple enough, huh? But I want to steer away from some arbitrary thought that comes to mind and seems doable. I want to have a purpose, a goal, a direction. To have the thought and live by the thought are quite different.

As SELF encourages me, so I encourage you: “In order to achieve a complete and happy existence, you must identify your goal in life – an objective that will give your life true meaning… Isn’t it exhilarating to meet people who have a purpose and the drive to make it happen? Well, that can be you. Goals give you sense of direction and something to get excited about. Life’s journey will be much more enjoyable if you know your destination. You need to have something to live for and to fight for, in order to feel that you have a reason for living. Take time to think about your goal in life – your MISSION!”

As I reflect on what I want my life to look like, about what I want people to say about me after I’m gone and about what my children will remember me by, I have one thing in mind. A person actually – someone who I have always looked up to, adored and honored for her strength in her marriage, her personal drive for success, her kind-hearted nature towards everyone she encounters and her heart to serve and love other young women.

This woman is Marla Burch.

She is as sweet as they come, as trustworthy and tender as anyone I know and has fervor for the Lord that is hard to match. She is affectionate and meek. Not to be mistaken for weak. She is far from that. You leave her presence and you have a sense of calmness. She is constantly in communication with others about the gospel of Christ. It naturally pours from her being. I have been under Marla’s leadership on many occasions through bible study and one-on-one discipleship, where her desire is to teach and protect others from her own lessons learned. You see the love she shares so passionately with her husband of 25+ years and you wish that for yourself after 25+ years of marriage. She sees for her household with extra care and always heeds the instruction of her husband. Her two grown boys and college-age daughter love, adore and respect her.

In a nutshell, that is my personal mission. To show kindness, to love wholly and with purpose. Whether it be my best friend, my mother, my husband, my children, the stranger on the street, the receptionist at the dentist, the cashier at Wal-Mart, the customer on the other end of the phone call, I want them to feel sincere and unadulterated kindness.

Every intent acted on is received by someone, somewhere, either in the present or at some time later. I want others to receive me with a smile. I want my happiness to naturally flow to others. I want others to see something different in me. I want others to seek in Jesus what natural comes from me because of my ever maturing relationship with Jesus. When I leave a place, I want others to still smell an aroma of peace, love and kindness.

Thinking about Marla brings a smile to my face. Her faith in the Lord naturally produces good works. She has a sweet spirit and a lovable heart. The fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) run rampant through her life. Because Christ loved humanity so much that he would live perfectly, die humbly and rise victoriously, she loves freely, serves openly and inspires others.

I hope people think of me that way and see that it is only because of Jesus that such righteousness comes forth.

“He who has a why to live for, can bear almost any how.”
Frederich Nietzsche

“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”
Benjamin Mays

“To grow and know what one is growing towards—that is the source of all strength and confidence in life.”
James Baillie

BR: Angry Management

“Angry Management”

By Chris Crutcher

An emotional and moving read. About adolescents dealing with misfortune, insecurity, anger, prejudice and raw emotion.

Crutcher takes you on three journeys to enlightenment, power and survival.

Three different stories, told by Mr. Nak who is a full-time counselor at Global Community Health.

First, the story of young Sarah, beaten and scarred at age 3 by her abusive, drunken and angry father. Left to live with him by her fearful mother. After meeting Angus, the two are whisked into a whirlwind romance. Facing her greatest fear, she confronts her estranged mother only to find she has been replaced. What brings her to extend her wings out of the captivity she faces?

Second, the tale of Montana, whose father’s ego is bigger and more powerful than her desire to prove him wrong. Her school newspaper article on medical marijuana is well-researched and well-written but fails to pass the approval of her father, who also is chairman of the school board. She battles oppression in her own home and fights it to the death at school. They yell such harsh words that they drown out the love they have for each other. Who overcomes the noise?

And lastly, about Marcus. Living in a white supremacist community, attending high school where to be athletic is the only thing that makes you a desirable friend. He happens to be homosexual. African American. Had brains fit for Harvard. Outcast. Dreamed of swimming the English Channel. That chance was not had. It was the masculine, oppressive star football player who took that opportunity away from him. How? You’ll need to read for yourself.

Crutcher gets a B+ from me. Angry Management is a quick read, with lots of unforeseen bends in the road. It has a great blend of betrayal and misfortune on the way to personal self-discovery.

One Year Later

“Today, we remember the beautiful people of Haiti. Shaken, but still standing. God has not forgotten you. One year later, we are here for you… carrying hope, help and Jesus in our hands.”

It is hard to imagine that a year has escaped us since the devastation of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. As I look back through photos of the terror that took place, I am saddened by how calloused I have become. Because the destruction was far from me, I have found myself forgetful of the conditions in Haiti that still exists in the destruction today.

But there is one thing that constantly humbles me – the sight of the Hazel family.

I am proud to know a family who is actively involved in the restoration of a poverty-stricken nation and who have so desired adoption that Haiti became the only natural option. The people and conditions in Haiti have taken deep root in their hearts, not just because of the devastation but long before the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Todd and Jennifer Hazel are faithful to God’s work in their lives, their hearts and their daily actions. This is evident in many ways but over the last year, I have seen them mourn and ache over the pain in Haiti, desiring to do something that will bring hope and peace to the orphaned, abandoned and unwanted children.

Adoption has been a God-given desire in their marriage for some time, but it became attainable one year ago today. This passion developed from a far-off hope to a very tangible, very possible gift in the form a young boy named Weisban.

 

Forgive me if some of the details are misspoken but this is what I know of this precious Haitian survivor.

He was first introduced to Todd only two months after the earthquake. Through Project Medishare , Todd was sent to Haiti to bring healing to children who were traumatized in the wake of the destruction. Unsure of what conditions lay ahead, he boarded a plane, leaving Jennifer and a 4-year-old son behind in Bowling Green. Upon arriving in Haiti, he was placed in the New Life Children’s Home Orphanage in Port-au-Prince to serve as a clinical social worker, providing mental health and psychiatric service to the children.

There he met a boy who lost his parents in the collapse of a building. He was suffering the loss of his only loved ones and also the loss of his leg, which suffered serious damage under the weight of the same building that killed his parents. He was traumatized, malnourished and weak but clenched onto Todd as if they had known each other for years.

During Todd’s tenure in Port-au-Prince, Weisban found his way into an open space in Todd’s heart. And from thousands of miles away, Jennifer was sensing the same longing to love Weisban. Through Skype and the daily updates on Todd’s blog, Jennifer came to know and understand just how extraordinary this little child was.

The prayerful adoption process began when Todd returned to Bowling Green. Research. Adoption agencies. Financial options. Prosthetic limbs for Weisban’s amputated leg. It seemed too out of reach. But their faith in Christ remained strong, hoping and praying daily that if Weisban was the child that completed their family, it would be so. As weeks turned into months, the possibility of bringing Weisban home lingered in the balance. Would the financial burden be too great to carry? Would the Haitian government, which lost all of their adoption and residency papers, allow the adoption to take place? Would something unforeseen tear them from Weisban?

While many questions remain unanswered, there has been a great deal of progress in the adoption of this beautiful boy. Unlike what the Hazels were originally told, Weisban did not lose his father in the earthquake. His father survived, but assuming that Weisban had not, he was not actively seeking his son. Through some sequence of events, his father emerged only to discover Weisban that was without a leg. Because in Haitian culture, this is viewed as a curse and an omen, his father forfeited his parental duties and, after learning of the Hazel’s interest in adoption, gave his consent for the process to continue.

One unforeseen hurdle jumped. But there’s more.

An organization that Todd worked with while in Haiti has become vital to the adoption process. I could be mistaken, but I believe this organization is located in Ohio. The team donated the funds to purchase a prosthetic leg for Weisban. He has since been introduced to his new leg and is learning to walk again and function on his own strength.

If that was not enough, the same group has committed to providing all of the necessary funds to bring Weisban home. Every single penny – covered. When it seemed like a lack of financial support might be the only reason Weisban would stay in Haiti, God provided in a major way. What a great God we serve! He is truly faithful to those who love Him.

So, where does the process stand today? It is only a matter of time. Todd is awaiting a visit to Haiti. It has been postponed twice because of the cholera outbreak and now government instability and violence during the recent election. Last I have heard, his trip is now scheduled for March or May, I believe. When he is able to visit, the prayer is that Todd will be able to speak directly with the Haitian government. With their permission, Weisban could be on a plane back to Bowling Green.

Wow, would that be a miraculous joy or what?! I am eagerly waiting for that day.

Prayer Requests:

- Weisban’s health and safety in Haiti

- Quick movement in the adoption process

- Strength and hope for the Hazels as they prepare to take on a second son

- The leadership and judgment of the Haitian government

And of course, let’s continue to keep the people of Haiti in our prayers. The damage is still very real. The emotional wounds are very fresh, even a year later. The conditions are slow to improve and their hearts are slow to mend.

He’s Really Not This Mean. January 11, 2011

 

So, just recently we got two puppies. Two brothers. Both think they are the King of the Castle. Hence, the fighting that ensues when one of them is unhappy.  This photo makes the list of my favorite funnies for several reasons. Bentley is clearly being dominated by Tucker. I’m not sure, though, if Bentley’s reaction is one of pain and anguish or of laughter and enjoyment. It could pass as a smile. Haha.

Jessie

She is AWESOME.

I seriously cannot even begin to tell you how incredible my friend Jessie is. You know a little bit about her because she went on the 40 Day Giving Challenge with me, but let me tell you just how on fire for Jesus she is.

After coming to know Jesus somewhere around 3 years ago, her life has continually changed to look more and more like Jesus. She loves more deeply. She worships more purely. She volunteers with an unconditional spirit, wanting only to be available to help those who need her. Ans she has a heart to serve others with no limits.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of Jessie and how ecstatic I am to watch her continue this incredible journey she is on. As of today, Jessie took some major steps toward full-time ministry in a place that will be very unfamiliar to her, with people who she will grow to know daily, doing something she has no current training on. Her ultimate goal is to work at a clean water well. She looked up a lot of information today on different organizations that might aid her trip. Whether in training or in support, Jessie is seeking out all available options to get her out of the United States in a hurry.

God’s desire for his followers is to love Him and love others to no end. This is Jessie’s desire, wholeheartedly.

And as much as I love her and no matter how hard it will be to see her off in the future, I fully support her decision to go and serve others and make herself 100% available to the call of Christ.

I hope that one day, I am available in the same way that Jesus is making herself open to the idea of being uncomfortable. Go visit Jessie’s blog to share in her growth and in her journey to wherever God takes her.

 

BR: “You Had Me at Woof”

You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness

by Julie Klam

“She sits at a table situated in the middle of a perfectly quaint coffee shop. She is a seemingly lonesome twenty-something, dressed to suit her aspirations in the business world. With her nose buried in a novel, she sits across from no one. With each turn of the page, her rose-colored lips shift from a motionless purse to a slightly upturned grin. Each growing smile leads to an audible chuckle. She smiles as she reminisces on the joys of puppy love.”

No, this brilliant picture is not a narrative from “You Had Me at Woof”. Instead, if you had been inside of Starbucks Coffee on Thursday, this would be the scenario you saw. You were looking at me – sitting alone, giggling to myself as I delved into each life lesson from Julie Klam’s creative and heart-softening novel.

If you were not a puppy lover before reading “You Had Me at Woof”, it only takes a look at the outside cover to fall in love with a smoosh-faced, bug-eyed Boston Terrier. Klam is clever and pointed in every word she uses to paint adorable pictures of the perfect puppy companions she met through the journey of her single years into her married-with-child years. As a member of the Northeast Boston Terrier Rescue group, you follow Julie’s personal journey in and out of adoption settings and you will take a seat on her living room couch as you watch her daily life unfold, with poopy dogs and adorable cuddlers alike. Klam has a meticulous way of making your heart melt with each precious moment of caring for a dog, but also making your blood boil over when that dag-nabbed dog urinates in the apartment floor without regard to your presence or rips open yet another feather-filled bed.

Although slow-moving through some portions of the novel, Klam makes up for it in her well-illustrated descriptions of puppy parenthood, with the daily joys and annoyances that naturally follow.

For its comedic, soft-hearted nature, I give Klam’s “You Had Me at Woof” a: B+

“Adam-Bomb” January 7, 2011

The ORIGINAL “Adam-Bomb”.

Completed like a champ.