I first of all want to say that I had a great Christmas!! I was able to spend a couple days with my parents, Josh, and my grandparents. Then, Ben and I headed to his parents for Christmas Day. We got some great gifts like a blow up air mattress! Now if anyone ever visits us they will have something to sleep on! Finding room to put it is another matter. I guess I'd just have to move the dining room table. I am looking forward to the next season of my life. I seem to be going through a bunch of transitions and I am about to enter into the next major change in my life. Ben is going to be an associate pastor!!!!!!! He had been trying to start a church in Mequon, WI but was told he needed more time and experience. Well, a couple we met at the church plant assessment was looking to plant a church in Oconomowoc, WI which is 45 minutes away from us. They found out that we were denied and decided to ask Ben to be their associate pastor!!! The couple, Don and Nicole are extremely sweet. They are around 35 I believe and just got married a couple months ago. We have a lot in common with them. Don promises to give Ben regular time preaching, so he can get the experience he needs. Plus, we are now able to help in a church plant from scratch! Our hope is that in two years the church in Oconomowoc will be doing well enough to send Ben and I off to start up a church in Mequon. I am now officially a pastor's wife!!!! Of course, I don't fit the stereotypical mold of a piano playing, gospel singing woman. I think I can find a way to work it out though. I do like to sing, but I am not the best at it. So, you can all be praying for Ben and I!!! We're going to run into some tight financial places very quickly. Ben will eventually leave his job to work full time for the church. We have to figure out some way for us to keep our benefits. I'm not worried about it though. I know God will handle everything! I just have to stay focused on my education still. I will be a senior next year, finally!!! Although I still have an extra year to go through.
That is all the updating I am going to do for now! I'm going to go eat pizza and watch Chuck with my wonderful hubby!!!
I love you all and hope you had a Merry Christmas! By the way, there is a present for you all waiting in Kearney.
Love,
Ashley
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Prayers
Wow, I just love it when God works in my life. I think everyone experiences that season where you feel left alone. Well, I had been in that and I am finally feeling God in my life again. (I'm not saying that He had left earlier... I just wasn't allowing Him in my life very much).
Anyway, Ben and I have a great opportunity that has just opened up to us. I'm asking all of you to pray for us, that we may have wisdom and discernment regarding our decision. I'm not really going to talk about what it is yet, but I'll tell everyone once we've decided what to do!
I'd also like to talk about why being good is not enough. You cannot enter the Kingdom of God simply by being good. I'd been thinking about that a little bit since a discussion we had with Ronda while she was at our house. Also because I heard on the radio there was an advertisement being displayed on transit buses that said, "Why need God, just be good for goodness sake!" So I came to this conclusion after reading the following verse from Ephesians in the New Testament:
". . . And live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2)
Someone cannot expect to enter heaven without having a relationship with Jesus Christ because without Jesus, they do not comprehend what true love is. If you don't understand true love, then how can you possibly be a 'good' person? See, as Christians, we understand that Christ sacrificed himself to save his people, which is true love. Therefore, we must live our lives acting as if they are not our own. We must give our time, attention, and love to others. We must sacrifice. How can someone understand this importance by just being 'good'? To them, good must have several different meanings. I also know that even people who believe in Jesus do not understand how to love others. It's a work in progress for everyone.
So, I encourage everyone to love wholeheartedly as Jesus loves each and every one of us!!!!
Love,
Ashley
Anyway, Ben and I have a great opportunity that has just opened up to us. I'm asking all of you to pray for us, that we may have wisdom and discernment regarding our decision. I'm not really going to talk about what it is yet, but I'll tell everyone once we've decided what to do!
I'd also like to talk about why being good is not enough. You cannot enter the Kingdom of God simply by being good. I'd been thinking about that a little bit since a discussion we had with Ronda while she was at our house. Also because I heard on the radio there was an advertisement being displayed on transit buses that said, "Why need God, just be good for goodness sake!" So I came to this conclusion after reading the following verse from Ephesians in the New Testament:
". . . And live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2)
Someone cannot expect to enter heaven without having a relationship with Jesus Christ because without Jesus, they do not comprehend what true love is. If you don't understand true love, then how can you possibly be a 'good' person? See, as Christians, we understand that Christ sacrificed himself to save his people, which is true love. Therefore, we must live our lives acting as if they are not our own. We must give our time, attention, and love to others. We must sacrifice. How can someone understand this importance by just being 'good'? To them, good must have several different meanings. I also know that even people who believe in Jesus do not understand how to love others. It's a work in progress for everyone.
So, I encourage everyone to love wholeheartedly as Jesus loves each and every one of us!!!!
Love,
Ashley
Sunday, December 7, 2008
God and Life
I want to begin by talking about a dream that Ben had. He was underwater, swimming, and was running out of breath. At the last minute when he was about to run out of all his air, he took a breath underwater out of desperation and to his shock, he could breathe underwater!!!
Okay, so this is what this dream meant to me.
First of all, I hate the feeling of being underwater, swimming to the top, and worrying whether or not you can make it to the top in time. I remember jumping off the high dive and hating it because I would go farther underwater. Anyway, I connected this all to God. How often do we run through our life feeling like we cannot breathe. There are stresses, anxieties, and finances to worry about. It's like we're going through our life underwater, holding our breath. What we don't realize is that God is bigger than all of this! No matter the obstacles, God can provide for us. He can make us breathe when we are underwater, he can make us walk on water, he can feed us. There is one condition though. In order for him to be able to do this for us, we have to have faith.
I'm striving to have the kind of faith that will allow God to do great miracles in my life.
I love you all and have a Merry Christmas!
Okay, so this is what this dream meant to me.
First of all, I hate the feeling of being underwater, swimming to the top, and worrying whether or not you can make it to the top in time. I remember jumping off the high dive and hating it because I would go farther underwater. Anyway, I connected this all to God. How often do we run through our life feeling like we cannot breathe. There are stresses, anxieties, and finances to worry about. It's like we're going through our life underwater, holding our breath. What we don't realize is that God is bigger than all of this! No matter the obstacles, God can provide for us. He can make us breathe when we are underwater, he can make us walk on water, he can feed us. There is one condition though. In order for him to be able to do this for us, we have to have faith.
I'm striving to have the kind of faith that will allow God to do great miracles in my life.
I love you all and have a Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
All Life Matters.....
I was spending some time looking through facebook and I came across the following post through a friend. It discusses abortion and how there is one clause that seems to bring to light a certain aspect that both the pro-choice and pro-life people have in common (usually. . . not all pro-life people believe the following) Regardless, it is a good read and it opens your eyes to some things you may not have thought of before.
Enjoy.
Staring out our kitchen window, I silently watched as the sun dropped behind the houses that lined the street. Before the sun continued its journey, making way for the moon, the window quickly glazed with fog, obstructing my view. Curious as to the source of the fog, I turned to see my grandmother diligently washing the dishes as the steam rose in the air. This villainous vapor not only plagued my view, but it also danced on her forehead causing her silver locks to cling there as well. I turned back to the window, wiping away the fog with my bare hand, and catching the sun just as it made its final pass beyond the urban horizon.
It wasn’t long before I felt inquisitive eyes on me. I turned, this time to face the gaze of my aging grandmother. The look she gave was contemplative and reluctant, as if she were dying to tell me something, but couldn’t.
“What?” I asked confused and interested.
“Nothing,” she answered turning back to her previous engagement. This time, I watched her and noticed that she cleaned the same plate four times. Her silence did not last long. Soon she was calling my mother to join us.
“What is it?” asked my mother, wasting no time to enter the kitchen, and ready to administer any punishment necessary. With confusion in her deep blue eyes, she looked from her daughter to her mother.
“You have to tell her, tonight,” demanded my grandmother, in a gentle and authoritative manner. My mother’s countenance changed instantly from curious, to reluctant. I was now worried, and a dozen questions swarmed through my mind. Did I do something wrong? Was somebody sick? What’s going on? I wanted answers, and I wanted them now. After a few moments of silence, my mother was snapped from her mental prison.
“I know,” she said in a near whisper, “will you keep an eye on the others?”
“Of course,” comforted my grandmother.
“Samantha,” something must be up, she just called me by my full first name, “get your coat; I need you to go to the store with me.” Without hesitation I grabbed my coat, and joined my mother in our blue faded minivan. She drove in silence, but I could tell her thoughts were imprisoning her. I wanted desperately to ask what was going on, but I knew my mother well enough to know when to keep my mouth shut. We pulled into the nearly vacant parking lot of our most visited department store, before a single word was uttered between either of us. The tension was high at this point, at any minute I could explode.
“Do you think you’re mature,” she asked hesitantly. The question caught me off guard confusing me. Was I mature? Just weeks ago I turned twelve, of course I was mature.
“More mature than most,” I answered, not willing to let my arrogance show. There was a long pause.
“Mature enough to know that you were born out of rape?” I choked. Minutes passed before my throat was free and my mind was clear enough to produce a reply. It was a life-shattering question.
“Was I?” I finally asked.
“Yes,” she answered and then began to tell me the story of the worst and best night of her life. I sat there in the passenger seat, clutching the safety belt as she continued. She said no matter what, I was her baby.
“I knew from the first moment you moved inside me, that you were mine, not his.” At this point we were both crying and her tale continued for what seemed liked hours. She told me about the many people, including close relatives who wanted her to get an abortion. This included relatives who claimed to be “right to life activists.”
The memory of this night was stimulated by a recent debate I had overheard about abortion. The topic is sensitive to many, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t to me. Through this debate I realized that I’m not angered by the debate itself.
For years I have heard and partook in this seemingly never-ending debate. One major flaw, in my opinion, is the one point that both sides share. Many of the “Pro-Life” say that the only exception of abortion is in cases of rape or incest, and the “Pro-Choice” say that abortion is acceptable especially in cases of rape or incest. Personally I find this to be a direct insult to my entire existence. All life is special and important, except mine.
My entire life people have considered me to be disposable. From the moment of my conception people have wanted me dead, and have used me as an escape clause. What sin had I committed that even the religious fanatics would have understood if I were terminated? I was conceived through rape; a conception that I had no choice in.
Because of these “exceptions” I felt like I was worthless, not wanted by most. My own grandfather had been one of those willing to pay for my termination, right next to my uncle and aunt. If my family wanted me gone, why wouldn’t these complete strangers see me as dispensable? For years I thought my grievance was with those claiming to be “for life,” or those “right to choose,” condoning abortion. Upon much observation I realized that yes I was angered by them (and hurt) but my grievance was also with myself. I accepted that I was expendable. I developed a depression in response to this acceptance of my unimportance.
With much consoling, mostly by God, I’ve realized that my life is special. Although I was conceived through pain and humiliation, my mother chose to keep me and give me a chance when not many others would. Now I’m a successful young student, ready and eager to change the world. No conflicting claims can hinder me; I’m called to greatness by the creator himself. Now I know that I’m actually, indispensable.
Samantha Vaughn (Flint, Mi).
I think this is a great inspirational story! I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks.
God Bless.
Enjoy.
Staring out our kitchen window, I silently watched as the sun dropped behind the houses that lined the street. Before the sun continued its journey, making way for the moon, the window quickly glazed with fog, obstructing my view. Curious as to the source of the fog, I turned to see my grandmother diligently washing the dishes as the steam rose in the air. This villainous vapor not only plagued my view, but it also danced on her forehead causing her silver locks to cling there as well. I turned back to the window, wiping away the fog with my bare hand, and catching the sun just as it made its final pass beyond the urban horizon.
It wasn’t long before I felt inquisitive eyes on me. I turned, this time to face the gaze of my aging grandmother. The look she gave was contemplative and reluctant, as if she were dying to tell me something, but couldn’t.
“What?” I asked confused and interested.
“Nothing,” she answered turning back to her previous engagement. This time, I watched her and noticed that she cleaned the same plate four times. Her silence did not last long. Soon she was calling my mother to join us.
“What is it?” asked my mother, wasting no time to enter the kitchen, and ready to administer any punishment necessary. With confusion in her deep blue eyes, she looked from her daughter to her mother.
“You have to tell her, tonight,” demanded my grandmother, in a gentle and authoritative manner. My mother’s countenance changed instantly from curious, to reluctant. I was now worried, and a dozen questions swarmed through my mind. Did I do something wrong? Was somebody sick? What’s going on? I wanted answers, and I wanted them now. After a few moments of silence, my mother was snapped from her mental prison.
“I know,” she said in a near whisper, “will you keep an eye on the others?”
“Of course,” comforted my grandmother.
“Samantha,” something must be up, she just called me by my full first name, “get your coat; I need you to go to the store with me.” Without hesitation I grabbed my coat, and joined my mother in our blue faded minivan. She drove in silence, but I could tell her thoughts were imprisoning her. I wanted desperately to ask what was going on, but I knew my mother well enough to know when to keep my mouth shut. We pulled into the nearly vacant parking lot of our most visited department store, before a single word was uttered between either of us. The tension was high at this point, at any minute I could explode.
“Do you think you’re mature,” she asked hesitantly. The question caught me off guard confusing me. Was I mature? Just weeks ago I turned twelve, of course I was mature.
“More mature than most,” I answered, not willing to let my arrogance show. There was a long pause.
“Mature enough to know that you were born out of rape?” I choked. Minutes passed before my throat was free and my mind was clear enough to produce a reply. It was a life-shattering question.
“Was I?” I finally asked.
“Yes,” she answered and then began to tell me the story of the worst and best night of her life. I sat there in the passenger seat, clutching the safety belt as she continued. She said no matter what, I was her baby.
“I knew from the first moment you moved inside me, that you were mine, not his.” At this point we were both crying and her tale continued for what seemed liked hours. She told me about the many people, including close relatives who wanted her to get an abortion. This included relatives who claimed to be “right to life activists.”
The memory of this night was stimulated by a recent debate I had overheard about abortion. The topic is sensitive to many, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t to me. Through this debate I realized that I’m not angered by the debate itself.
For years I have heard and partook in this seemingly never-ending debate. One major flaw, in my opinion, is the one point that both sides share. Many of the “Pro-Life” say that the only exception of abortion is in cases of rape or incest, and the “Pro-Choice” say that abortion is acceptable especially in cases of rape or incest. Personally I find this to be a direct insult to my entire existence. All life is special and important, except mine.
My entire life people have considered me to be disposable. From the moment of my conception people have wanted me dead, and have used me as an escape clause. What sin had I committed that even the religious fanatics would have understood if I were terminated? I was conceived through rape; a conception that I had no choice in.
Because of these “exceptions” I felt like I was worthless, not wanted by most. My own grandfather had been one of those willing to pay for my termination, right next to my uncle and aunt. If my family wanted me gone, why wouldn’t these complete strangers see me as dispensable? For years I thought my grievance was with those claiming to be “for life,” or those “right to choose,” condoning abortion. Upon much observation I realized that yes I was angered by them (and hurt) but my grievance was also with myself. I accepted that I was expendable. I developed a depression in response to this acceptance of my unimportance.
With much consoling, mostly by God, I’ve realized that my life is special. Although I was conceived through pain and humiliation, my mother chose to keep me and give me a chance when not many others would. Now I’m a successful young student, ready and eager to change the world. No conflicting claims can hinder me; I’m called to greatness by the creator himself. Now I know that I’m actually, indispensable.
Samantha Vaughn (Flint, Mi).
I think this is a great inspirational story! I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks.
God Bless.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thanksgiving cannot come soon enough . . .
I am very excited for Thanksgiving because I am going to be surrounded by people that I love. I still struggle with feeling lonely in my new home, even thought it isn't that far from my parents. It is harder to make good close friends when you don't live in the dorms at a school. Besides, Milwaukee is more of a commute type school. No one really lives right around in my area. So even if I find someone who is cool and all, they may live an hour away which makes it difficult to hang out with them. I did put up a Christmas tree in my condo, it looks nice. I had to put it up before Thanksgiving so my place looks homey for when family comes and visits. Ben's mom gave me a nice pretty red table cloth, my mom bought some cool wall decorations, and I also was able to adorn my place with some of Grandma's loved red vases. I cannot wait for this semester to be over. My life basically consists of papers, reading, and work. I am working on a 7-8 page paper, a 10-12 paper, a 3-4 paper, an math exam, and so on . . . It is ridiculous! I'm also frustrated with my advisor. There have been some complications with the requirements to enter into the education program that I thought I had done. Oh well, what can you do, right? I am excited because I made pot roast in my beautiful crock pot! My first time using it. It smells delicious!
Well, that is all for now.
Love,
Ashley
Well, that is all for now.
Love,
Ashley
Monday, November 3, 2008
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