Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Women of Faith

The messages and memories from this past weekend's event are still lingering in my mind so I thought I'd share my notes with you. (After all this blog is called notes from Noelle) They may seem scattered but there is some really powerful truth in here that may be encouraging for you today.

HENRY CLOUD

"Today's worries may be the enemy of your tomorrow"

Put a necessary end to whatever is keeping you from your dreams

The gardner prunes the good roses and only keeps the best. What God is taking away may be in order to save something that is better for tomorrow.

Why don't we believe God will supply our needs?

SHEILA WALSH
The bigger the trouble, the faster we should run home. You don't have to clean up yourself for you mom, so don't clean up yourself for your heavenly father.

Peace is not about changing circumstances, the peace God gave. When God speaks peace they have to obey. Mark 4

Peace is not the absecence of trouble but the presence of God.

Galatians 6:4-5
There is nothing good in me apart from God.

The good shepard knows where to find you
LISA HARPER
John- Jesus healed the boy because of his gut-level compassion


Our God adores the bummer sheep.


(I bought her book Stumbling Into Grace and it is soooo good!)
KEN DAVIS
(Not) God make the storm go away (Instead) Show me how to dance in the rain

Perfection is NOT a requirement

Humor = a gentle way to acknowledge human frailty

God is not oblivious to what's going on Isaiah 43 MSG

The boy had to physically offer the lunch, knowing he had one is not enough

*Divine math - my talents are nothing in my own hands, but in God's hands they are so much more
NICOLE JOHNSON
"You can't get all A's and still flunk life"


*Be brave enough to bring God the pieces to brew something new


God has the vision for the brokenness that we think is trash.




Also since the weekend I've had this awesome song stuck in my head!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Irene

This weekend my sweet momma and I went to D.C. for the Women of Faith conference. It was such a wonderfully inspiring event and has really begun to spark something in me that I haven't felt in a way. A creativity and motivation to dream bigger than myself and recognizing that the talents I may have only come from God. I was smacked in the face with the pleasant reality that anything good in me comes from the Lord.

While I have been so desprate for work and a purpose, I selfishly believed that God was saving me for something big and one day the world would know my name and sing my praises for what I could accomplish. I imagined I would give credit to His name, of course. But Satan continued to put me at the center of the vision rather than God being the center.

I want to serve the Lord wherever I am. And "go corporate for the kingdom", as I've mentioned before. But God showed me so graciously that without Him, I am nothing. Any ability I think I have comes from Him. This anal-retentive, do-it-all, organizational-freak, work-a-holic was created by the Heavenly Father and created to just love Him.

I am also reminded of this with the impending "Mean Irene" hurricane that is rapidly approaching.

If you don't know already, I really hate the rain. So a hurricane warning that will last a few days is like a death sentence for me, and there is nothing at all I can do about it.....BUT...

sit back

pray for the safety of those around me

relinquish control

grab a cup of coffee and a good book

and thank the good Lord that He loves me in spite of my selfishness and grouchy rainy day spirit.

Please enjoy the next few songs inspired by "Miss Mean Irene" herself.


(this last one sorta works if you replace "Jolene" with "Irene")

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Mr. & Mrs. Kulp

July 30, 2011

Sara Chew and John Kulp became husband and wife and I was honored to be a part of it as the matron of honor, and what an honor it was! Everything about this day was simply beautiful and just the way she wanted.


One of the many duties of the MOH was to give a toast to the bride and groom. As is my nature, I spent time making sure I knew just what I wanted to say (also to keep from letting Sara's tears get to me).

This couple is so special to me. I met John and his brother Taylor as little kids on the soccer field and when Sara and I were seated next to each other in 10th grade geometry we became fast friends. We’ve stayed up late, drank way too many cups of coffee together, and shopped for the most important outfits a girl will wear, prom dresses and wedding gowns.
I am so honored to share this day with you and to have this chance to tell you how beautiful you are together. God’s love and presence in your life is just beaming today. I want to leave you with a few words to remember when the all the gifts have been unwrapped, linens are folded, and you are back to the core of your relationship, the simplest and purest part of your marriage.
For those of you who don’t know, the song that Sara and John danced to tonight goes back to the very beginning of their relationship. Brian McKight has serenaded them on many occasions counting 5 simple examples of what love means. So my charge to you both begins like this
1. Once a day, tell your wife she’s beautiful
2. Make reservations for 2 as often as you can
3. Never forget the 3 most important words in your marriage, “I love you” or  “you are right”
4.  Never go to bed angry be4 saying I’m sorry
5. 5 is the number of years you have been waiting for this special day!

John was traditional in the way he proposed, flowers, candles, music and he got down on one knee. As the leader of the household, John, you will be required to make a number of tough decisions on behalf of your family. And Sara there will be times when you will simply have to submit and trust your husband.
But I encourage you both to remember the posture that began your journey as husband and wife the way that John proposed, down on bended knee. The more time you spend on your knees together in prayer the stronger your marriage will be. When there are dogs and kids to be fed, decisions to be made, bills to be paid, and career moves to be discussed spending time in prayer together makes you a unified front that cannot be broken.
And I would also like to challenge you just as Chris and I were challenged on our wedding day to take every opportunity at the future weddings of friends and family to dance - at each step recommitting yourselves to the promise you made today. I hope you can remember tonight and the people in this room who came to dance in honor of you.  And I thank you sincerely for the honor I have to be a part of it.




We had so much fun getting ready that morning and this was such a special moment!

CONGRATULATIONS YOU TWO!!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

31 Days of Change

I am so excited to be getting back into the swing of things. Summer has come and gone and the cool Autum breeze is starting to blow across the field outside.
This is my favorite time of year! Apple picking, pumpkin carving, changing leaves, school supply shopping (ok, I don't get to do this anymore but I DO treat myself to a new planner each year), and the thing I look forward to the most...routine! While I still don't necessarily have a routine of my very own, there is something comforting to me about spontaneous vacations and strange schedules coming to an end. I mean, don't get me wrong I LOVE summer time fun, but the type A side of me needs that assurance.

Anyway, I am TICKLED to introduce a fun challenge that I'll be starting in October. The Nesting Place and seven other great blogs are doing joining up for another year of 31 days of Change. For 31 days in October each blog will be choosing a topic and posting on a topic of change each day. Some topics are; 31 Days of Stress Free Entertaining, 31 Days to a Better Photo; and 31 Days of Grace and many more.

This year I'm embracing the domestic diva inside of me and working to prove something to all those people out there who thought I would never be able to cook anything more than cookies. The modern day Julia and Julia will begin with......
31 Days of 30 Minute Meals.

I'll be following in the footsteps of the wonderfully talented, Rachael Ray, and trying out a new recipe of hers every night complete with photos and videos of my attempts, the good, bad, and the ugly.

I've gone to the library and borrowed every Rachel Ray cookbook they have and am already planning out the month. Can't wait to get to the kitchen!


(B.T.W. This was all Chris' idea, can't wait to share the details)