What really matters... just doesn't.

These past few weeks have been filled with heartache, tears, laughs, old friends, and fond memories.

My friend Chris Champion lost his battle to cancer.

It is so hard to let go of someone when they are so young. Even though our Lord took him at 20, he still touched more people than I can ever imagine to.

Chris was full of God's love. He was strong in his faith and never lost sight of who God was even when the cancer wouldn't let up.

I am so proud of him. I don't know what else to say. I will always admire him. He was just as great of a man as his father was.

I miss them both terribly.

I am not going to pretend that I understand why God needed to take both John and Chris because I really don't.

I am not going to pretend that I understand why a family that I love has to suffer with the loss of two loved ones within months of eachother.

Chris' Memorial was beautiful.

I do know that Chris is no longer suffering.

He is walking right now with God.
How I so longed for him to be able to get out of his bed and walk and now he can.

Thank you Jesus.

I wish I could have been there to see Chris and his father hug for the first time in months. What an amazing sight.

It brings a sense of comfort knowing that John was able to be there first and was able to greet Chris.

Luckily I don't have so say good bye because for us death has no sting only a promise of eternity with our Lord.

So see you later Chrissy Poo.

With all that said I just wanted to share something I learned this weekend.

Since Chris passed I feel as if there is this weight upon my heart.

I feel as if things that mattered to me really just don't.

There are more important things in life than holding onto hurt.

I was able to see my mom's dad Ted this weekend at a wedding. I must admit when I thought about how I was going to interact with him I just cringed. He has done and said some pretty hurtful things to my family. The last time I saw him I said something very hurtful and I don't think he really understood why I said it, but when I saw him on Saturday night my first thought was Chris. I want to be able to make the impact that Chris made on all of his friends and family. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of guilt. What would God want me to do?

What did I want to do?

It was as if that weight was lifted and I just didn't care anymore. Everything that happened in the past was just that. The past. It didn't matter.

I quitely got up from my table and walked over to Ted and wrapped my arms around him and and said "Grandpa I love you and I am sorry" and that was it. From there God just helped us talk about things.

Things are not great between us. I really barely know the man, but God opened up a window and helped me.

Thank you Lord.

And thank you Chris for being such a great example in my life.

All glory and praise be to you God.

Forever.

Champions

It has taken me forever to even begin to blog what I want to say... and I didn't even begin to put a dent in it!

I have never in my life met a family who I care about so deeply.

John and Dawn:
I love you both so much. You have both encouraged me in every way possible. My life has been changed with not only the love you guys have shown me, but through all the times you both believed in me even when I didn’t think I could do it.


The worship team is probably my favorite memory I must admit. I remember us all trying to learn the song “Great King”. The song you both brought to us from across seas. I still remember Johns face every time we would sing it. We never quite did it the right way, but instead of correcting us John would just put his hand on the side of his face and just smile. It was a smile that always made my heart happy. We were going to make it our own sound not because we wanted to, but just because we couldn’t get the song right now matter how many times we tried. Every time I would look back at John I would think to myself “Uh oh… I think he just gave me the look… did he?” The look always made me feel a little self conscious. Not in a bad way, just in a way of whatever I did with the Champions I wanted to succeed. I wanted to give it my all because John and Dawn never held anything back when it came to serving us teenagers.
We started out with a girl who could sing but not play an instrument, a boy who could play and instrument but not sing, a drummer who couldn’t keep beat, and a bass player who had ADD when it came to the practices. There were frustrations and laughs.

Dawn I remember when you wanted me and the rest of the team to “Free Flow” as you would call it. I thought you were crazy.

You showed me how to worship outside of the box.

And now look at us!

The girl who couldn’t play an instrument is now leading worship with her brand new guitar at The Way!
The boy who could play but not sing is leading worship in Colorado with an amazing voice that he worked hard to develop.
The drummer that had no beat just finished serving at the Oaks as a Jr. High youth leader and is now waiting for the next step from God.
And the bass player who had ADD is a strong warrior for Christ and continues to teach all those around him that no matter the circumstance God is good and faithful!

With all this said I am just trying to get to the point of letting everyone know that if you have ever been lucky enough to meet this couple you know you can’t walk away and not be changed.

They allowed God to use them in many ways and in all of those ways I can guarantee not only for myself, but to many others you were both a great stepping stone in all of our lives because you listened to God soft voice and trusted.

I end this blog with a heavy heart as we say good bye to one of our dearest friends John Champion.


You were a man of God.

An encourager.

A servant.

A Husband and a father.

You were a great mentor who I was proud to tell people that I always looked at you as another dad in my life.

You cared for me and loved me.

Thank You John.

I will greatly miss you, but I am looking forward to the day where we meet in the Golden city of the New Jerusalem.
I love you.

Dawn, as we continue down this road just know you are never alone and God has new and exciting things for you. I am here with you always.

Dan, Chris, and Mihi... I love you guys so much! I thank God often for your friendships... every one is very unique and different... God is great at placing people in others lives...

To God be all the glory and honor and power.
Amen

Broken Record

"What do you want to do?"

Do you know how many times I have heard that question this past year?

Sheesh...

Who knows...

1. I had hoped to be a worship leader overseas.
2. I thought I would have been almost done with school.
3. Married... or at least with Mr. Right in sight. (Yeah right, I know.)
4. Serving under people who craved to know God's words because it is unavailable to them.
5. Sitting with someone in the middle of no where just listening to their fears and telling them of hope that Jesus Christ has to offer.
6. Sending letters home to Mom and Dad telling them how much I miss them and how thankful I am for all of their support and encouragement.
7. I figured I would be a better person than who I use to be... in reality I don't think I am.

Just some of the things I had hoped to accomplish by now.

Life goes by too fast and I don't want to waste it.

but this has been a year of blessings as well...

1. I have a great job with adorable children that drive me crazy but when I go home on the weekends I find myself missing them....
2. Friends. New and Old. Always there for me when I need them. (Thanks guys)
3. My family. I have grown so close to them this past year and I can't live without them.
4. The Way is still going strong through God's provision.
5. My new worship team family... (Karen, Boozer, Dawn, Sarai, and Katie)
6. The encouragement and confidence I get from my Oaks family to keep going.
7. Most importantly... God's reassurance that he is and has been watching out for me and will never leave me.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
~Hebrews 13:15

Thats all.

I am a friend of God...

So I don't really like the song Friend of God.... but as I listen to the worship team practice it right now in my living room... They sound nice... Good jobs guys!

Its nice to have everyone back together....

These things I will never...

Take for granted.

Standing in the rain...
Strumming a chord on my guitar...
Being able to tell some one how much I love them...
Waking up every morning and praising God for all he has given to me...
Being able to put one foot in front of the other without a second thought on how...
Reading, writing, and even talking...
Singing praises to the Lord...
Being with family...
The laughter from friends...
The hugs I get from my nephews and nieces...

These are some of the things I will never take for granted.
God has blessed me greatly...

Thank you Lord.

Just a simple prayer...

God...

You are so Good.

So encouraging.
So loving.
So full of grace.
So powerful.

You lift us up in time of need and you hear us as we come to you with burdened hearts and overwhelming circumstances that we can not over come on our own.

You are beautiful.
Wonderful.

You are exalted.

Nothing can hold us down even when we see no end to our problems.
When it seems like the floods are closing in you hold us in your arms and carry us to higher ground.

God pour your Spirit into our lives that we may daily overflow into others.

You say your burden is light and your yoke is a feather.

Your name holds power.

Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.

Lead us.
Mold us into your masterpiece.

Be exalted.

Let our worship be our offering.
Let our praise be unto you a heavenly sound.

Let this prayer be the prayer of many.
Thousands.

We are loved.

It is because of your love that we are able to love others.
Let your love be our weapon against the ones who try to knock us down.

God you are Master.
You are Savior.

And you...

You alone are God.

Our creator.
Our father.
Our strength.

And our refuge.

Amen.