This past weekend Andreas and I helped out with our church's annual Family Fall Fest. Taking over one park on Saturday and another on Sunday (in two different areas of our neighborhood).
Over the two days we had just over 250 kids and families show up for the festivities. Doing things such as pumpkin carving, goodies, and games.
Here I am drawing up the sign for the day's sack races.
Andreas busy making balloons for the kids.
Katrina (who I'm often working with at the Church's café) doing face painting for the kids.
Sack RACE!! The kids were great, even when they were falling over each other.
Playing carnival games, such as bean bag toss and Fat Cat.
Many parents and passer-by's asked "What's going on?", "This is FREE!?", "Who's putting this on??", "This was really great!" "It's a good thing you're doing here."
Hopefully we'll have some new comers or visitors to church, but even more than that hopefully people were some how touched and effected by our attempt in trying to show God's love by doing something for the community.
Andreas and I traveled down to VA via bus to show our love and support for Libby's big day. (I did scripture reading and helping with the book signing table, while Andreas directed parking traffic) ;) It was so good to be at her wedding!! I feel I've missed so many big days in many of my friends' lives because of traveling and ministry, but God knows! (the biggest day of our lives will one day come and I know I'll be there for that one!)
Here's a few of my fav's from the pics that I took at Libby's wedding weekend. September 24-25.
Libby & I have been joking about starting a wives club! :) First meeting coming soon - details pending. ;)
Day one of mom's visit was consumed by our dancing/Broadway Blessing event. Which you can check out the vid on my previous post.
Day TWO: Included Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Batman movie set, WTC (no pictures from WTC sorry)...
Andreas proud of the Norwegian Copper used to build Miss Liberty.
After leaving Liberty Island and Ellis Island we stumbled upon the set of Batman!
Day THREE: Included Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, Junior's, Central Park, and WEST SIDE STORY! (guess which part was my favorite?)
Galavanting around Rockefeller Center.
Lunch at Grand Central Terminal, followed by us devouring delicious NY style cheesecake at Juniors.
Forever21 in Time Square, had a pretty impressive advertisement display, which included pre-recorded model's taking pictures of people passing by on the street in real time? Crazy? check it out:
This was the pic I took of the huge display screen. That's us in the pic she's holding!! (and a few other street walkers....)
Finally....
Yeah!
Day FOUR:
Which I don't have pics of got even more exciting....
My mom and I rode bikes around Prospect Park.
Andreas and I went to work at the cafe, and then the TORNADO HIT!
While at the cafe the winds suddenly picked up, the sky went black/green, and rain was falling horizontally. Trees were down on almost every block! Fortunately no major injuries, except for one death :( Weather experts said with absolutely no warning it's amazing that there weren't more casualties.
Day FIVE: We scurried over to Brooklyn Bridge Park before my mom had to fly off again.
At Brooklyn Bridge Park
This was the crazy line waiting for some famous Grimaldi's Pizza, located under the bridge. There's ALWAYS a crazy line for Grimaldi's! Side note: girl in pink shirt - NOT me. haha.
Needless to say the week was very eventful. After working at the US Open for two weeks, then the eventful week with my mom I was tired. :) Work has been up and down, last week was a very FULL work week, but this week has been extremely slow.
Last weekend we did make it up to VA for the weekend for Libby's wedding so many some pictures soon for that too!
Hey guys~ I know I've been "bad" by not posting more updates! It's a bit out of control how long it's been.
Here's a nice vid from us performing with Project Dance at the annual "Broadway Blessing" event (Monday, September 13th). Kudos to my mom for filming with my little digital camera (she had just arrived for a one week visit to NYC, that afternoon!).
Every year a "Broadway Blessing" is held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It's very interesting...because although it may sound very christianese the actual event is a group of "spiritual" people coming together asking for "God's" blessing.... Everyone in Project Dance is sold out for Jesus of course, but other groups invited or involved in this particular event included Christian Scientists, a Jewish Rabbi, and other mixed faiths who believe there is a "God" but not necessarily a Saviour.
The event went very diplomatically, and professional. Several artists from Broadway performed. And of course....Project Dance got to point to Jesus! :) Check it out...
Have you ever experienced the following: Everything is at a lull, a bit of a stand still. Thing are happening, but it just seems pretty sloooow...then...BAM. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY.
For me that was this past week (August 30-September 5).
Starting Monday the 30th, I began work the catering company who are working the US Open event! :) We are the people behind the scenes serving all the high rollers, tennis club members, and a few lucky winners who win a chance to be served like high rollers. :) It's been a great experience, but kept me busy ALL week.
This weekend (Saturday & Sunday) I've been behind the scenes at an off Broadway show. Check it out: Tigers Be Still
Nothing too crazy, a very small production - only four actors. Never the less, it's been good doing helping with minor costuming endeavors and "rigging" costumes.
Now going a little bit back in time...Here's some pictures from last weekend (August 28th & 29th). Andreas and I enjoyed a stroll on our fold-up bicycle (Andreas sat in the seat and peddled, while I hung on the back and sat on the extra piece over the tire). :)
The Brooklyn Bridge Park. It's such a nice park! It's not big (yet - they are adding on quite a bit!) Here's some pics to see for yourself.
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
ITimothy 4:
14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Often time music speaks to me, not just he music...but I truly believe God likes to use music to speak to me. Because I get it. As an artist it's one of my languages. (Of course, it's not just artists, but most people can relate to music easily.) Has God spoken to you through music...? Listen harder... ;)
Tonight I was listening to Natasha Bedingfield's Wild Horses, here's a youtube w/ lyrics:
Now I believe this song correlates very closely to God's call on our life when it comes to following Him. Think about what Christ asked the disciples to do: "Follow me." Even telling one man, to "let the dead bury the dead". He told them leave everything you know, as Natasha sings "Throw caution into the wind..."
Also look at what is spoken to Timothy through Paul. Devote yourself wholly: fully, completely. To not be afraid. Not be lead by the spirit of timidity but by the spirit of God: power, love, self discipline. Like Natasha sings "If only that someone was me, jumping head first, head-long, without a thought."
RECKLESSLY pursuing the calling Christ has placed over your life.
How often do we - as humans - not do what we feel God is calling us to out of fear. Not obeying God or holding back out of fear is just the same as neglecting the gift. Just the same as not being diligent in the things of God. Just the same as holding back and not giving yourself wholly to Him.
We when we operate in fear and neglect our calling through Christ, we end up in a place, that Natasha is talking about: "Is this my life I'm wondering, it happened so fast how do I turn this thing around. Is this the bed I chose to make, there's greener pastures I'm thinking about, wide open spaces far away..." We end up in a place that is much worse, than facing our fears.
WHY? Why drive yourself to that point. I've done it. I've gotten into my comfort zone, every day I get into my comfort zone and my routine. I remember on my outreach to Vanuatu I walked up to a random lady in the street and said "Hi, my name is Tammy. I feel like God wants me to pray with you, would you mind?" Ummm...now, if I saw a lady in the street I felt God wanted me to pray for I'd probably run the other way, and pretend like I didn't see her!
I think one thing that helps me to step a bit out of this worldly fear, is a bit of what Paul mentions...he says don't neglect your gift. He says "not because anything we've done but because of His own purpose and grace." It's a gift, it's His own purpose, it's His grace. It's not about us, therefore what do we have to fear.
If I'm out with a friend and she wants to ask somebody something, there's something that rises up in me. If she's too shy to ask, a boldness rises up in me on her behalf, because she is my friend I want to help her out. I can easily ask something of someone on her behalf without fear, because it's not about ME and it's about helping my friend. I think in life, daily, we need to remind ourselves of that. It's not about ME, it's about God. What does He need done in His Kingdom today? To act, to ask, to operate on HIS behalf, and live life in that manner, I believe that can lift an enormous weight of fear which so easily hinders us. It's not about us. We need to RECKLESSLY abandon life for our own sake, and live for Him.
I believe we need leaders to rise up like the disciples, dropping everything: their livelihood, work, family, land, EVERYTHING. We need leaders like Timothy, who let go of the fears of this world/culture and stepped out into the place God was calling him. They understood it. It wasn't about them.
Any "elders" out there, lay hands on the coming generation. Lay your hands on them and pray that God would increase the call, increase the gift. That there would not be a spirit of fear that entraps, but the Spirit of God that brings reckless freedom in His Kingdom.
I leave you with Natasha's words:
"RECKLESSLY ABANDONING MYSELF BEFORE YOU (Lord) I WANNA OPEN UP MY HEART AND TELL HIM HOW I FEEL"
