Well said!

The mistakes one makes sledom have as much consequence as one's responses to those mistakes.

Seasons

On Monday my fiance and I went for a run. It almost killed me by the way, but he is preparing for a 3k run & I thought I'd be supportive of him and go on a run with him. As we were running, I noticed the acorns are starting to fall...the season is getting ready to change around here!

The weather isn't the only thing changing, though....my season of life is quickly changing, and like fall, it will be here before you know it!

Four months from today we will be wedded together as husband and wife. WOW! It still amazes me! I've come a long way...trust me!

Today that realization became more real to me as dear friends I have worked with this summer gave me my first surprise Bridal shower. As I opened up gifts we will use for a lifetime together in our home, I thought, "It's really here, I'm going to be this man's wife." Most all of the women in the room are married, and have been for many years.

They are seasoned wives!

When I witness these women and the years they have put into their marriages, it gives me much hope and anticipation for mine. I know seasons will change. Some we will enjoy, some we won't enjoy.

But, God...

He is faithful. He is patient. And He will walk with us every step of the way as we travel down the many seasons of our lives. My heart is so full and grateful for the women who celebrated with me today, and I will continue to celebrate Jesus in this season and the ones to come!

Save the Date!

It's official...my fiance and I will be joined together as husband and wife on Saturday, January 5, 2008!

We've got the location down and now it's just downhill from here as we plan our big day. We are making an effort though not to get lost in the planning and to continue to be committed to preparing more for the marriage than the wedding...a mistake I've heard many couples make.

I keep reminding myself though that God is in the details, and so even as we make small decisions, I continue to invite Him in on the planning, to guide our footsteps, and that we be sensitive to His voice. God has been so faithful to show us which way to go, and He has blessed us tremendously thus far for choosing to follow and trust Him.

A person plans his course,
but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

D-Day

Well, it's been 3 weeks of walking on cloud nine! I still pinch myself and cannot believe I am going to be a wife! Crazy stuff, but it's so real. I think it became more real for me tonight when I purchased my dress!

That's right...today was D-Day: Dress Day!

I went last Friday (along with my mom & 2 friends) to try on some dresses. That lasted 4 hours! By the way--I recommend going on Friday nights, it was very slow. I narrowed it down to 2 dresses, took the rest of the weekend to think about it, and came back today with 5 of my close friends and my mom.

I wish I could load a picture of my dress on my blog for you right now...it is soooooooo pretty! Great price, low stress, and it was on sale! So, I can cross that off my list. I'm so pleased. It was so fun. I just thought though...I'll never again go dress shopping...that was it. It's a done deal. That kind of makes me sad.

Moments fly by so quickly.

Now I know what past brides mean when they give me the advice to treasure this time and enjoy the planning...Today, I did just that. I'm so grateful for my mom and my friends who shared that moment with me!

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday, at 7:30 pm on 7/30 my dreams came true! D proposed! I've now been engaged for a week. I would have loaded the pics last week, but it turned out to be such a busy week making phone calls and telling all our friends the good news!

I thought it was going to be a regular evening, but it turned out to be quite a shock for me. I was clueless, stunned, and speechless. Of course, I managed to say, "Yes!"

It was quite a unique proposal...he asked in a prayer as he was blessing the food. I remember thinking, "This prayer is getting lengthy!" At the end of his prayer he asked the Lord that I would accept his request for me to be his wife! I looked up and said, "What?" Then he came around, got the ring out of his mom's purse, and got down on one knee and said, "Lynzee, I love you....will you marry me?"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so honored and thrilled to accept the proposal of Mr. DeLario Bolton! I am blessed to embark on this new journey of life wiht this man! I'm so thankful he chose me to be his bride!

Thank you, Lord...

Captured!

Waiting on my blessing!

Enough Said...

"God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too wise to be unkind. When you can't trace His hand, that's when you must learn to trust His heart."

Charles H. Spurgeon

It's Our Anniversary!

A year ago this sweet man pictured on the left, DeLario, humbly approached me and asked if we could begin an intentional friendship. I remember his sweet smile & his nervousness. In fact, he forgot to ask me for my phone number, so he had to call one of my friend's to get it!

Since that day, we have indeed developed a friendship that has flourished into a deep love for one another.

I am so grateful for this man and I want to honor him right here in this post. He is a Man of God. He is gentle, kind, loving, funny, has a servant's heart, and walks a life of integrity. Before he approached me on June 25, 2006 he was praying & fasting over me, being sure not to jump ahead of the Lord. He desired to hear from the Lord before he approached me. He has pursued me, wooed me, and won my heart!

Thank you, Lord for your redemptive gift to me through this man! Thank you, sweetie for loving me sacrificially and being my best friend. I'm so glad to be chosen by you. Thank you for choosing me!

A Life Cut Short

I cannot believe the e-mail I just read. I just received an email that one of my former students passed away due to a drug overdose.

I am shocked.
Sad.
Hurt.
Confused.

She was 15 and going to be a junior next year. What went wrong? What happened? I do not have the answers to those questions. A life cut short. So much potential and life ahead of her. Oh, how I wished I would have reached out to her more. That I would have not ignored the signs I saw of lonelieness, grief, and sorrow in her eyes.

Now tomorrow I will attend her funeral with her young peers.

I need strength, Jesus.

El Salvador: Mission Accomplished!

Down El Salvador Way

Next week I will be walking the streets of San Salvador, El Salvador! Exciting stuff. I will be traveling there on a mission trip with the Prestonwood women's ministry. We will be ministering to women in a local church by conducting a women's conference for them. This is a double treat for me because I will have the opportunity to minister to women and to use Spanish. Que bueno! How cool!

I am hoping for the Lord to do some amazing things in El Salvador, for all of the women's hearts to be united in Christ, for women to come to the Lord for the first time, and for God to be glorified. Please pray with me for this trip. I look forward to sharing with you when I return.

The Apprentice

School's out for summer! I am so excited about the summer and all God has in store for me. As a part of my degree program I have to do an internship. I have the honor of interning this summer at Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Women's Ministry. I am super excited and have tons to learn! They have lots to keep me busy this summer: Bible studies, a mission trip to El Salvador, a leadership retreat, and the day-to-day ministry responsibilities. I can't wait to share with you all I will learn as I prepare to launch out into women's ministry in the future.

I've discovered that ministering to women is my passion. I am a by-product of one woman, Julie, (pictured above) pouring God's Truth into my life. As a result, I have been changed, and desire to be a change-agent in the lives of other women for the glory of God! The Biblical mandate for women's ministry is found in scripture in Titus 2:3-5:

Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited. (NET Bible)

For thousands of years women have been doing 'women's ministry.' It has been recently, within the last 20 years women's ministry has flourished. Churches are understanding the need for a ministry specifically tailored to meet the needs of women in their congregation. So, I am studying how to effectively create a women's ministry from some of the best in Dallas! I am humbled and grateful.

What about you? Do you see a need for women's ministry in your church? Who has been that Titus 2 Woman in your life? Or do you sense God calling you to be that older woman to teach a younger woman the 'how to's' of life? I pray you would consider the mandate for women ministering to women found in Titus 2:3-5. Check back here as I will be posting updates about my internship & sharing tools for effectively ministering to women.

Today's friendly reminder: don't lose your...

Goodbye, PCA!

Where does the time go? Nine months ago I wrote a blog entry about the new school year beginning and now it has come to an end. Today was the last day of school as well as the kindergarten graduation (sooo cute) and senior graduation. I remember my high school graduation. I cannot believe it's been 9 years ago! Ugh...I'm getting old.

Another school year down.

This was my fourth year teaching high school Spanish, but I must say, this was my most enjoyable year teaching. I know some people have had bad experiences teaching in private schools, but I loved it. Having small classes made it conducive for better instruction and I had an opportunity to really get to know my students on an individual level. So sweet, those kids!

Any teacher knows we don't do it for the money. Amen? We do it because we love children, we love learning, and we desire to enlighten hope in each our students' lives. But, sometimes it is discouraging, draining. I become doubtful if I am reaching them. My only prayer this year teaching in an all Christian context was to be available for my students in any way they needed me; for my students to see just a glimpse of Christ in me. Many days I left not knowing what they saw...But these last couple of days the cards, hugs, words of gratitude, and smiles made it all worthwhile. It really touched me and ministered to me. Jesus, they actually saw You--in me!

What a God we serve who desires to use us, empty, broken vessels to minister His grace and lovingkindness to others.

I bid my dear students and co-workers farewell. I won't be returning to PCA next year, but I leave with fond memories, a greater love for God, and giving thanks and praise to God for allowing me to minister to others for His name's sake.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature among God and men.

Luke 2:52

Migraines, Mother's Day, & Movies

What a weekend! Sometimes I feel like I work harder during the weekend than I do during the week. I truly need a Sabbath rest! But that's a whole other blog entry I'll save for later! First, let me share with you all about my weekend.

My sweet boyfriend has been suffering from headaches for about 9 months now. He finally said, "Enough is enough," and went to the emergency room on Saturday in Louisiana (he was there visiting his mother for mother's day weekend). The doctor has diagnosed him with migraines...I feel so bad for him. I'm just glad that he got a prescription, and now he doesn't have to suffer anymore. The doctor gave him a shot and my boyfriend said that was the best sleep he had ever gotten! I envy him! :) We all need to slow down and listen to our bodies. They were only meant to do so much. So, sweetie if you are reading, take it easy! I was very sad I was not there with him, but I'm glad he at least had his mother there with him.

Another Mother's Day has gone by! Yesterday morning my mom was looking through an old scrapbook I made her. I made her a homemade card this year. Funny how many years after pre-school I am still making her gifts! Remember those days when you would do a finger painting picture for your mom? My mom says gifts that are handmade are the best. I agree!

What a blessing mother's are. I truly think parenting is the hardest job on the planet, but also it is probably the most fulfilling! Yesterday I found myself longing for the day to be a mother. One day, Lord...

My mom and I also went to see the movie Georgia Rule starring Jane Fonda, Felicity Huffman, and Lindsay Lohan. Let's just say it is not appropriate for a young audience. It is rated R. I wish I would have done some more research before I went to see it. The story line was good, but there was a lot of profanity, sexual innuendo, and lewdness. I felt like I needed to repent after watching it! Not to mention it was kind of embarrasing watching it with my mom...

If you can get past all of that, it is a good movie with a good story. It painfully, but beautifully tells the story of the tension between three generations of women--a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter. Indeed the dynamics of all of these relationships do pass down from generation to generation, for good or bad. I know that is true in my family. The movie depicted the reality of our depravity and how sin and brokenness effects people in our family who may or may not even be born yet. It was another reminder how every family has its issues...

I am grateful for a Savior who desires to redeem our families' dysfunction!

All in all, it turned out to be a good weekend, despite my boyfriend's migraines, a happy mother's day for my mom, and a reminder of God's blessing of family at the movies.

Start Compiling your Summer Reading List!

The dog days of summer call for reading lots of great books! I don't know about you, but I love to get some extra leisure reading in. I wanted to share a couple of books with you I have read to perhaps add to your reading list:

Rumors of another World, by Phillip Yancey

This is a great, great, great read! It includes the author's thoughts of how clues from this world speak of another world beyond what we see. If we are not careful, we will miss those clues, and in essence miss the beauty, mystery, and enjoyment of God. I read it this semester in my Eschatology class & it may be one of the best books I've read in a while. I highly recommend it!

Spirit of the Rainforest, by Mark Ritchie

Intriguing, suspenseful, and eye opening! This book will leave you amazed at the depth of the Father's heart to reach all peoples and all nations with the Gospel. This book is by a sociologist who travels into the Amazonian jungle and observes the culture of the indigenous people. I read this in my Anthropology class last semester.

Books I plan on reading this summer:

Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller

Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas

I'll let you know here on my blog how they turn out. What about you? What books have you read lately that you enjoyed or what do you plan on reading this summer?

Funny as hell?

Why do people use that saying? I confess I've said it and of course, I have heard it dozens upon dozens of times that someting is 'funny as hell.' I have never stopped and really given thought to that saying though...until today in my Eschatology (study of the end times) class.

In fact, we have a number of sayings in our language and culture we use with the motif of 'hell' in them. For example:

• "When hell freezes over..."
• "People in hell want ice water..."
• "Go to hell..."
• "That's one hell of a..."
• And many more

My prof began the class by playing an array of popular songs about hell. Many of the songs were not somber, sad songs, but upbeat. What irony! The common theme in each song depicted an attitude of mocking hell and death. We as humans tend to mock that which we are afraid of. It keeps us from having to face reality, face our fears, face our God.

The reality is, hell is not very funny at all.

I wish it weren't so, but hell is real. Hell is a place reserved for the wicked, a place where there will be 'weeping and gnashing of teeth,' the Bible describes. "Should we not already begin to weep at the very prospect?" says theologian John R.W. Stott. People you and I know may be seperated from God in hell if they do not repent and confess Christ as Savior. So, why do we mock it? Why do we laugh? As my prof said this morning, "I believe hell is going to be a hell of a lot worse than we can ever imagine." (No pun intended)

As a Christian, I should not perpetuate the mocking the world does at the thought of hell. To do so is to buy into the notion that, 'hell doesn't exist, therefore, let's poke fun at it.' I believe God's heart does ache at the thought of the evil and wickedness of men's hearts who will not repent and come unto Him. If our hearts are to be aligned with the Lord's, then our hearts should be burdened for those who will spend an eternity in hell too.

I can hear you saying, "But, what about Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Adolf Hitler? Don't they deserve hell?"

My answer is yes, they do deserve hell. But so do I, and so do you. God does not seperate, as we humans do, degrees of sin. Sin is sin...unrighteousness is unrighteousness. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Thank God for His saving grace through Jesus that saves us not only from eternal hell, but hell on earth! (Although we will suffer in this world, having Christ see us through our suffering is our hope)

Every once in a while, we Christians should give ourselves the opportunity to feel the realness of hell...it is no laughing matter.

"I long that we could in some small way stand in the tearful tradition of Jeremiah, Jesus and Paul. I want to see more tears among us [Christians]. I think we need to repent of our nonchalance, our hard-heartedness." John R.W. Stott

Segregated Sundays

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said Sunday is the most segregated day of the week in America. Unfortunately, that statement still rings true today. When will we say enough is enough? Those of us who call ourselves born again Christians still perpetuate and participate in segregation and racism. Now I know there are healthy churches out there that are multi-racially healthy. However, there are not many.

As I write this I am ashamed to admit I participate in segregated Sundays too. I often find myself, especially being bi-racial (black and white) feeling pulled to pick one ‘church’ (i.e. the ‘black’ church v. the ‘white’ church) over the other. At least I feel a tension! I’m afraid many do not feel any tension at all; they just go with their ‘own.’

What must the world think when they look at us?

The mark of Christianity should be our love for one another, yet we cannot see past black and white. When will we begin to see red? The color which symbolically covers us all by Christ’s blood? Perhaps we do not understand what it means to washed in the blood of Christ.

Scripture affirms our oneness in Christ repeatedly. Consider Galatians 3:28:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female– for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (NET Bible)

The unity we share in Christ transcends all racial, socioeconomic, and gender barriers.

In fact if we look at the example of the Trinity, we find an image of oneness and unity. Christ’s prayer was for us to be one as He and His Father are one. Pew after pew in America sadly proves we are far from being one.

As children we all sang, “Jesus loves the little children…red and yellow, black and white…” I challenge you to ask yourself do you love all God’s children of the world—red and yellow, black and white. Like Martin Luther King, Jr. I too have a dream that one day segregated Sunday’s will be no more.

It's a...Sorpresa!

You don't have to be fluent in Spanish to figure out 'sorpresa' means surprise!

Yep, my sweet boyfriend (pictured behind me) and some of my dearest friends collaborated together and threw me a surprise party last Saturday for my 27th birthday!

It was such a lovely time, and they really did throw me for a sorpresa! I thought I considered myself one not to appreciate surprises...you know, the ordered, structured type. I decided after last Saturday that I'm alllll about surprises!

I felt so special and loved as I walked in and saw many of my dearest and nearest friends. What a blessed time it was for friends, fellowship, and fun!

"Thank you, Lord for the gift of life!"