What Do I Know of Holy?...by Addison Road

I can't remember the first time that I heard this song, but it has been fairly recently.
I do, however, remember thinking that it was written with me in mind.

So many times I try to play "Lets Make A Deal" with God. I will attempt to sucker Him into contracts or agreements that only benefit my current life situation. "God, I'll never get myself into this again, if You will get me out." I made You promises a thousand times.

Then there are times when I finally come to the Lord about specific concerns and burdens, I give Him my suggestions, my solutions, and my thoughts on the matter. I know that by taking these things to King Jesus enables Him to work in and through the situation, but I realize that I try to hear from Heaven, but I talk the whole time.

Obviously, since I am trying to Make a Deal and since I offer my human suggestions, I think I have made You too small. If I think He needs me to help Him, I really do not believe He is the God of the Universe, the Creator and Lord I claim Him to be with my mouth. Apparently I do not claim Him as those same things in my heart.

And if I have convinced myself that He needs me, then I cannot see Him as a God who is worthy to be feared. I never feared You at all.

If You touched my face, would I know You? Am I so comsumed with my busy life at Western. as a Studen Intern, as a Pastor's Wife, as a Ticket Booth Girl, as Drama Director, as a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, that I would not even recognize a touch from my Creator?

With all the things that consume my life, is Jesus one of them? If He looked into my eyes, could I behold You?

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know?
What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees


Because I grew up in a Christian home with parents who Worship and Served the Lord all my
childhood, I guess I thought that I had figured You out. I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about how you were mighty to save. So many times people "play church". Even I get caught up in "talking church" and saying and doing all the right things. I am reminded of a specific song that I hear on the radio and sing along with. "Mighty To Save". Here are a few lyrics of the song: "Saviour, He can move the mountains, My God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave." There are many times that I sing along to this song with the same enthusiasm that I have when I'm singing along to one of the tunes by Rascal Flatts.

If I didn't claim these words in my heart, then they would be only empty words on a page.

But then.........oh, but then....
Brandon and I caught a glimpse of who You might be. We watched God provide for us when we could not provide for ourselves. We were reminded that He is faithful regardless to our life situations. He is larger, He is God. Throughout the last two years of our lives we have been humbled by His mercies, His faithfulness, His forgiveness, His love. We have been in sitations and circumstances when the slightest glimpse of You brought me (us)down to my (our) knees.

First Day of School

Today was the 1st day of school. Oh how I already love my 2nd graders and their excitment that they bring. I enjoyed watching Mrs. Pickens as she reacted to unexpected comments, thoughts, and opinions that were shared throughout the day. She is such a pro.

Mrs. Pickens really includes me and allows me to be a part of all that is going on during the day. I appreciate this so much. I am already hearing of stories that other student interns have shared with me and I realize that the reality in my classroom is not the case for others. I am thankful and blessed. My only hope is that I will be able to repay Mrs. Pickens for her hard work and investment in me by becoming a successful teacher myself one day.

After school was over for the 2nd graders, it was time for WCUers to begin....at least for me it was. My two girlfriends (who are also Student Interns) and I carpool to WCU. It really is wonderful to have these two girls to chat with on the way and back, share ideas, and have class with once we get on campus. However, tonight, once we got out of class at 9pm, it was a quiet trip home. We were all feeling a bit overwhelmed on this 2nd day of school at WCU.

**This is my last semester of classes. Next semester, I will be student teaching each day of the Spring Semester. I will be putting into practice all that I am learning now. I know that this education is currently and will continue to pay off, but it certainly is difficult for now.

I covet the prayers of those of you who will remember me as I tackle this semester. That I may finish strong for Jesus!

Teacher By Day...Student By Night

Last week, I began working at Cartoogechaye Elementary School with my Host Teacher on the Teacher Workdays. I have really enjoyed this last week - getting to know Angie, preparing for students, and getting an inside look at what really goes on behind the scenes. I have been way excited about this coming week.
Today, I went to Cartoogechaye for half a day and then it was time to go to WCU to begin a new semester - my last fall semester.

I am looking forward to this semester at WCU and Cartoogechaye. It will definitely prove to be a busy one, however, the amount that I will learn within the next three months of my life will enable to be become an educator that will help students recognize their dreams and potential, leading them to a future of success.

On the way to WCU today, I was able to reflect on how I have reached this point:
When Brandon and I got married in September of 2007, I was working at Macon Bank as a full-time teller. In November of that same year, Brandon began serving as Associate Pastor at Holly Springs Baptist Church. We were getting used to the new roles that we had taken on within a short amount of time. In January, only 4 months after getting married, Brandon and I felt as though the Lord had opened a door for me to go back to school and complete my teaching degree - something I had began but never finished. I quit my job at the bank and enrolled at WCU as a full-time student.

I am so incredibly thankful that God has been oh so faithful to us in the ways we have watched. I'm looking forward to the coming months regardless to how busy and overwhelming it may seem at times. In the end, what matters is that I do everything to my best ability so that God will be glorified and King Jesus is exalted.

Wish me luck as I meet my 19 2nd graders tomorrow! It's going to be a great year!

New Days Ahead

Teacher Workdays began today for Macon County School Teachers. Since I am beginning Intern 1 for the Fall Semester, I am required to begin working with my Host Teacher the day Teacher Workdays begin. To be honest, I have been looking forward to these days. I knew there would be a lot to get accomplished, knowing that Parent Night is tomorrow and that students come back on Tuesday, but I was excited about getting the opportunity to know my Host Teacher more than I do. My Host Teacher is Angie Pickens and Brooke King. It will be a good year.
For the Fall Semester, I will be working at Cartoogechaye Elementary School three days a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I also have classes at WCU these same days. Regardless to the busyness school will add to our lives, I am extremely looking forward to this last school year and all that I will be taking in.
The Spring Semester begins in January, which means that I will be completing my Student Teaching in the same classroom. I will take on the role of teacher for the semester which leaves me excited as well as nervous all at the same time.
Last night Brandon and I were praying together and Brandon said something that I had not thought of. He was asking Jesus to walk with me into the School System today and to remind me of His presence as I began my journey into the classroom, maybe for the rest of my career life. That was a neat thought.
So anyhow, within the next year, there will be a lot of changes occuring in our lives. We are looking forward to it and clinging to the scripture:
"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans that will give you a hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11

New To This "Blogging" Thing

For a while now, Brandon and I have talked about coming up with a way to keep in touch with our families and friends that are not always around for us to share our lives with. While we were playing around with the idea of newsletters, emails, blah, blah, blah...the rest of the world had already been introduced to blogs. However, the news of blogging has just recently made its way into The Breedlove Nest and we are going to give it a try.
It isn't that we feel as though our lives are so incredibly interesting that people would bog down the Internet in order to keep up with us, but it seems to be an easy way to journal the events of our lives not only for those of you who read it, but for us too. I love to scrapbook but the time I have to do it is extremely limited. September will be two years that Brandon and I have been married. I have began a wedding album, unfortunately it is only 3 or 4 pages long. (It's still a working progress) I am afraid of missing out on a huge portion of our lives and then not knowing where to begin to start documenting it. Therefore with this new blog thing, I am wanting to go back and journal about the last two years of our lives and hopefully beyond our wedding day.
Hopefully, this will enable us to keep up with our own lives, journal as we live each day together and experience the pouring of God's Grace over our lives.