Tears of the saints

The Holy Spirit makes me cry... happy or sad. If I'm hardcore worshipping, I probably have tears in my eyes. God just likes to touch the emotions in my heart and I'm perfectly fine with that.

But one thing that can make my heart weep and my eyes well-up with tears the most (if I'm not at work and constantly having to greet people with a smile on my face) is when my Jesus is misrepresented. 

And I'm not as much angry about it as I am terribly, terribly hurt. 

Because clearly, the point has been missed.

There has been a situation that happened recently, but I've felt this way for quite some time with other similar situations.

Evangelists.

Yeah, the ones that yell at you on your college campus, on your television screens, and on street corners proclaiming damnation on "you sinners". I don't find these tactics very loving.

The word 'evangelism' is derived from the Greek word euaggelion , meaning “gospel” or “good news.” I don't know about you, but damnation is not good news. I already knew I was a sinner before Jesus saved me. I didn't need to hear it from anybody else.

Here is what good news is to me (You can find this in Luke 7:36-48 in that Bible the evangelist just threw at you... or you can just read it here)

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Her tears for her own sins turned her into a saint.

Father, may we find the tears we need for our sins. Forgive much so that we can love much. Help us to treat each other in this way.

I must blog... Testimony Part 4

My apologies. I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath since my last blog wondering what in the world is Mrs. Brown doing. Well here's a quick synopsis, and I will make it quick because I would like to continue with Part 4 of my testimony... if you don't mind.

So.

I have a job. Hence my silence from blogging.

Also, we have moved to Chatt-town! We're both very excited about this. I will blog later about the house. I'm sure it will take us much longer to unpack this go-round.

And that's about it.

On to more important details of my life: my testimony. For a refresher course, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 are linked here.

Part 4 is the story of my baptism. And I must admit, I dragged it out. I like to call myself a "late bloomer".

I believe the subject of baptism came up around the age of 13 as it does for most. However, I was not too keen on the idea. It wasn't that I didn't believe in the maker of the universe or that His Son came to this earth to create a new creature, die for Her, then be raised three days later to build a home for Her. It was that I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that I was a very weak soul and the expectation of growing into a new creature was too great. (how silly of me!)

You see, I'm not one for change. I like routines, I like patterns, I like consistency. However, to be a follower of Christ, one must be willing to abandon "the norm" and take on a new habitation. That is a scary endeavor for someone who is not apt to change.

Another struggle that was mulling around in my feeble mind was the debate of works vs. faith. I believed, so why did I have to "do" anything if works didn't save me?

I am also somewhat of a rebel at heart. If someone wants me to do something, I have a hard time going along just because "I said so" or "you're suppose to". I use the present tense because I still struggle with this, so you can imagine how I was 10-15 years ago.

All of this combined with the distractions of being a teenage girl had me shying away from the subject anytime it was brought up.

My parents were very gracious and loving in letting me decide when. However, their concern grew as I got older and the subject came up more often than I was comfortable. Anytime conversations would drift towards talking about Jesus, which they often did, I would remain silent not wanting to draw attention to myself.

And guys, this went on for a very long time.

Until.... IMPACT.

I might have mentioned the youth camp Impact in a previous post, but it was an amazing youth camp that our church youth group would attend every summer at Lipscomb University in Nashville. I will always hold those summers dear to my heart. It was such a wonderful experience.

On Thursday night of the camp, they would make their grand invitation for people to come up for baptisms, confessions, requests, etc. And this was when I got really uncomfortable.

You see, I kept it a secret that I was not baptized. Since we didn't start attending Westgate until I was in eighth grade, everyone just assumed that I was. And I let them go on thinking that.

This particular year (I think it was 2006), my parents went along as chaperons. And I was dreading Thursday night. I knew they would make the invitation, I knew my parents' thoughts would turn to me, and I knew I would feel extremely uncomfortable.... and all of that happened. I did not move from my seat. I was a statue in that audience, refusing to hear the Lord.

But He did not get angry with me. He was patient and kind. He stepped back and let me decide.

After the "grand" invitation, everyone went to the their own devotional times. My father (the Lord bless him!) "side-swiped" me and said, "Let's go for a walk". I knew what was coming and my heart was pounding.

We found some steps in a quiet part of campus and we talked. I don't remember a lot that was said because my emotions were running high, but I got the words out, "I want to be baptized." I had actually wanted to say those words for a while, but I can be such a drama queen sometimes. I suppose I thought it was going to be like taking off a band-aid. (As you can imagine, I have a hard time just ripping the thing off.)

We called my brother to tell him (my sister came along with my parents, so she already knew). Here's what went down on his end:

Monte was at his usual Thursday night prayer group. We called him during this time. When he saw who was calling, he told everyone he was with that he had to take the call because his sister was getting baptized. (whaaaaat!) He had also told a friend earlier that day that I was going to decide that night.

And here's what went down on my end:

Erin, you are my daughter. You have known me your entire life, and I have known you before you were in your mother's womb. I have created you to be a part of My family, to be a part of My church, My bride. 

I was baptized that next Sunday in a swimming pool.

I've got to be honest and say that I did not have a "holy dove" experience. And if I am really being honest, I think my family was more excited than I was. But knowing now that my journey had started long before I went under the water and having the assurance in the Lord that my journey was going to continue after I came out of the water, has made all the difference.

I was finally free. And that fact has sank deeper and deeper into my heart.

Now, looking back on my baptism story, it still affects me (in a good way). I did not take it lightly as I think all should not. I still wonder why the Lord chose such an action to respond to His calling, and He continues to teach me. I know that when I have children of my own, there will come a time when they ask the same questions that I did. I will smile, kiss them on the forehead, and say, "The Lord is a mysterious god who loves letting His children find out who He is. He has given this to us for us. He wants so very much for you to participate in the life of His Son, and to do that, we must die to ourselves. That's what baptism is."

Sweet and Southern | Huggins Wedding

The hubs and I were privileged to shoot our best friends' wedding along with another photography couple. We are by no means experts on this matter. In fact, we used Pierce's camera. However, we had fun with it, and I'm actually interested in getting better... I just have to get my own camera. :) We were extra excited about doing this because the wedding was for family only and we wouldn't have gotten to go if they had not asked us.

And it was such a sweet occasion! Lauren had purchased most of her decorations at antique and thrift stores. She also used quilts from her and Pierce's family. These vintage touches gave it such a southern feel that exemplifies the two of them perfectly. And the locations! Who doesn't love railroad tracks?

Well, I'll just let you guys be the judge of how precious these two are! We love them very much and are SO excited about this amazing, crazy, wonderful journey called marriage that they've embarked on together.

We loved being there for them on their special day! Be blessed guys!

An Apple a Day

Lately, my husband and I have been convicted of our diet. I'm not talking about cutting out fried foods or sweets for a few months. I'm talking the whole spectrum that makes up our daily eating habits. It has become acutely apparent to me that our society, this "American" way, has made food a convenience rather than a means to live. Our "impoverished" are even over-weight. McDonald's is a staple in every town. I was sitting in a CiCi's a few months ago and it hit me how lazy and wasteful we are. There I was with this long buffet of pizza in front of me, and I wasn't even going to finish the mound of food I had piled on my plate. 

On a deeper, spiritual level, I have become even more aware that my body is the temple of God. Your body is too. I have been given this vessel, this physical life, to steward. By honoring my body, I honor Him.

Now, I'm not saying all this to show off or confess that I have perfected my diet. (I ate a brownie yesterday... and the day before that.) This is also not a 5-step course on how to lose 5 pounds. What I hope to do in this post is simply inspire you to take action, however small that may be, to make your life healthier. 

When most people decide to get healthier or lose weight, they automatically think of exercise. And though exercise plays a very important role in a healthier lifestyle, it is only 30% of the contribution. The other 70% is diet. Not the kind of diet where you cut out carbs or drink this shake for 6 days straight. No, it's a lifestyle change. It's not something you do just for a few months to get the results you're looking for. It's something you commit to doing for the rest of your life. 

Our bodies are starving for nutrients. Why else do you think we get sick after we've had a stressful few weeks? Why else do you think we have a persistent cold all through winter? Why else do you think heart disease is one of the leading killers in the country? Because our bodies have been designed to use certain tools to fight these invaders, and we are stripping them of these tools.

I know that making a lifestyle change is never easy. Most of the time we fail several times before we truly commit. And it never happens fast. Change is a slow process. It's difficult, painful, and frustrating. BUT the longterm effect is beautiful. So here are some facts and tips that I have learned thus far in my process.

-Start small. What I mean by that is don't bite off more than you can chew (ha, literally and figuratively!) Don't hit it hard week 1. You'll find yourself unsatisfied and defeated. Buying healthy can be expensive, so loading down your grocery cart with fruits and vegetables you've never heard of might not be the best thing to do at first. Instead, try one new vegetable or decide to incorporate more vegetables in your meals. 

-Substitute. Examples: a lot of red meat is NOT good for you. And unfortunately, it is very prevalent in our diets. So, substitute ground beef for ground turkey. Seriously, if it's a dish with seasonings, you won't be able to tell the difference. Another example is processed sugar. Process sugar is so bad for you. But natural sugar in the right amount is much better. So, try putting natural honey in your coffee instead of the white grainy stuff. Or get natural peanut butter. Substituting little things can make big pay offs. Start researching other ways you can substitute for the things you consume on a daily basis.

-Invest in a juicer. If you don't like eating your greens, this is a great alternative. I like to juice kale and spinach because of their high nutritional values, but I would never be able to get that down on its own. So I add an apple, a few carrots, and a banana to the mix. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, ya got ya self a healthy smoothie. 

-Vitamin C. Stress triggers your body to produce adrenaline which breaks down Vitamin C which is what fights against colds and such. SO, if you feel like you are having or anticipating a stressful week, pop in some extra Vitamin C pills in the morning. Your body knows how to get rid of it if it doesn't need it. But you'll be less likely to get those annoying sniffles.

-Drink water. Oh my goodness, am I a stickler for water! Water is SO good for you, people. Stop complaining about how it has no flavor! Cut out those TERRIBLE soft drinks and start guzzling the agua. Your kidneys will thank you. If cutting out sugary drinks is difficult for you because you're addicted, again start small. Replace one drink a day with a glass of water. Or add in some water flavoring if you really can't stand the blandness (don't get addicted to that though). 

Side note: I've heard that if you're afraid of getting those caffeine headaches, drinking ample amounts of water cuts that out. It's just what I've heard, but try it.... unless you're scared. :)

-I heard Dr. Oz say not to eat past 8 pm. And it makes sense. How many of us really do anything after 8 pm anyway? I would say though, if you just can't wait until morning, eat an apple, some carrots, or something low in calories. Because where is your body going to put that pint of ice cream once you've gone to bed? (answer: your hips!)

-Count calories. I've had several people give me crazy looks when I told them I was counting calories. Seriously, guys, you've got to start early because once you're 100 pounds overweight you're going to wish you had. I have an app on my phone that keeps track of everything. Limiting my body to the number of calories it NEEDS is much better for me than eating until I'm "full". I've really noticed how much of a mindless eater I am. I'll sit down with a bag of chips and just snack. Next thing I know, I've eaten 4x the serving size! So keeping tracking of how much I take in has helped me to take advantage of what I do eat and get the most out of it. 

-Cut out bleached foods. White bread, white sugar, white flour, white rice, etc. If it's not naturally white, don't eat it. 

-Take liquid minerals. I'm not doing this right now, but I've done it in the past and I never got sick. You can order these online and get them in bottles. It's usually about one or two tablespoons a day. Quite painless.

-Do this with someone you love. It has been a huge help that my husband was just as inspired as I was about being healthy. And in return, we inspire each other. We are not meant to do this life and everything that goes with it alone.

-Pray about all of this. Ask God what areas of your diet are not honoring Him. He'll be gentle, I promise. 

I don't claim to be a perfect eater. I have a sweet tooth that gets the best of me daily. (This is something that I will be fighting for a while.) But being conscientious of what I eat has made a huge difference. I hope you've found some inspiration in this post. This is the only body you get for this life. Why not take care of it? 

If you're interested, here are some documentaries that really got me thinking. I found them on Netflix.

'Hungry for Change'

'Food Matters'

'Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead'

I Heart Crafting

I've had some time on my hands lately (since I'm not working... it's pretty great!). So what else would I do besides craft?

Here is an update on what I've been doing. I hope you get inspired!

 This creation! I'm pretty proud.

I simply wrapped twine around bottles, gluing every so often. (I did the bottles sometime last year but I've finally found a purpose for them.) The "bird's nests" are made from strips of this AWESOME blue burlap twisted and spiraled on some felt which you cannot see. :) Then I just glued some pearls to the middle. Pretty cute, eh? 

"New" dress and jeans

 This was the dress I walked out in when leaving our wedding. Since I don't wear white too much, I decided to dye it. I was actually going for more of a mint-y green, but this color is growing on me a little. I might end up just dyeing it all a dark blue, but we'll see the reviews I get. My husband was a little sad that I dyed it, but seriously, I haven't worn it much. Maybe now, I will.

I have a couple pair of jeans that I thought I would like better if they were darker. I bought these capris already a light wash, and I've gotten a lot of wear out of them. So, I thought it was about time for a change. The dye ended up a little blotchy in places, but I actually like it. It gives them a grunge feel. 

New wreath!

This is now joyfully hanging on our front door. It's a little touch of spring without screaming pastels. That's what my sister said anyway. I also made the flowers and they are detachable so I can interchange them as the seasons change. 

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this episode of "I Heart Crafting". Tune in next time when I teach you how to sew your own slip covers... just kidding. That's ambious! You can learn that in your own time. :)

Messy, Testimony Part 3

I realize several months have come between my last posting about my testimony. If you need a refresher, here and here are the links to Part 1 and 2.

I left you last with the beginnings of our journey with Westgate and my baptism. You're still going to have to wait until a later post to get the story of my baptism because there's a lot that went on in between. And it's messy.... very messy.

....

Right now, I'm staring at my computer screen because this part is probably the most personal of my testimony. Few know the details. It is scary, ugly, and embarrassing.

And now that I have built it up for you, I will just spill it.

Well, let me start here first:

I was boy crazy. Not surprising because I was 13 years old. However, my parents knew the dangers and deceits of young "love" and tried their hardest to steer me in a more wholesome direction. Again, I was 13 and the most rebellious of the Baugh children (not something I'm proud of). I dated stupid boys and kissed a few. I led on a few only to break their hearts. A few broke mine. All the while, straying from my parents' (but it was actually the Lord's) wisdom, driving a wedge in their trust in me and my trust in them (but it was actually the Lord's). I did not trust my heart to the One who created it.

Side note: You might be thinking this is a light and fluffy way of me talking about sex. I'm not. Although, sex is something that starts before any physical action occurs, this is not about my virginity. But for the record, I gave that to my husband when we got married. 

My point is I was losing trust and for several years giving my thoughts to things that are not of God. And that opens doors for those scary, ugly, embarrassing things that I will now let you in on.


Fear

gives way to

Doubt.


Yes, they are names. They are spirits. And I let them in.

There was a movie that came out when I was in the 9th grade. You know it... The Passion of the Christ. Well, I didn't see it. I saw previews and that was enough to scare me because of a few scenes: the ones with Satan in them.

Something about seeing an actor portraying Satan scared me to death. Literally, I was dying of fear. I was so afraid of Satan himself appearing to me. I wasn't sure what he would do if he did appear, but I was so scared of finding out. I had several nightmares. I had a terrible time of keeping my thoughts off of this fear... And I could not sleep by myself for a year. Seriously guys, a year. My parents put a cot in their room so I could sleep there.


Something about the dark gives way to evil things. Jesus talks about this. Dark-lovers hating light. The light exposing the deeds of the dark. Well, when it was dark, I gave in to fear.

And then I began doubting the power of God. Could He save me? Was He really who He said He was? If I had heard His name all my life, why was I so afraid? Where was He?! Why was I so inclined to believe the evil one and not believe the Lord?

I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to know there were many nights of crying and praying with my parents.

When I look back on that time in my life, my faith was so weak. But it was faith nonetheless. I can't pinpoint a revealing moment when it all just stopped. Maybe my baptism, maybe growing up, maybe a culmination of good life happening. Prayers were answered and I let myself get to know Him. And I am being freed because of Him. It all turned into a refining fire, just as all stories that end in Jesus do.

I have learned this: there is no fear in the Lord. He keeps you safe.

So there it is. One of the messiest parts of my testimony. No, it didn't have alcohol or drugs in it. It didn't have to. Everyone's hell is different. It is all the same though. My Jesus saved me from that hell. He taught me how to trust Him so that I can honor Him. I know for a fact now that I am in Him.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

I'm still here... but not there.

Let me explain...

We have moved! Mitch got a job working for Mohawk Industries.

Here are some fun facts about Mohawk:

-They are the world's largest producer of flooring.
-They are the world's largest recycler of plastic bottles.
-They are debt-free.
-They are a Fortune 150 company and employee over 26,000 people.
-They hired only the best man in the whole wide world!

So, where are we now? Dalton, GA. It's quite a long way from Auburn. It is about 30 minutes south of Chattanooga, TN, which is pretty awesome.

We are now in an apartment which is pretty fantastic (although not as fantastic as a house but that will come later). Here's a little preview.

We have a pretty large kitchen... well, large compared to the 3 drawers and 5 cabinets in our other place. There's also a lot more wall space... better to hang pictures on, my dears. :)

We miss Auburn, but we're excited to see what God does with us here! Until next time, friends.

2012- A Year in Review

Remember my first blog? It was a list of things I wanted to accomplish for the rest of 2012. Sadly, I did not achieve them all. However, I achieved over half (some of which I have already blogged about). And I must admit, I put some one the list that were easily achievable just so I could cross them off. Yes, I'm that person. Since I blogged about many other things besides what was on this list, I didn't get to post about every single accomplishment... and that's what this blog is for. I'm wrapping up 2012 and taking a big breath of 2013 air! I'm very excited to see what this year brings. Stay tuned for updates on the latest in the Browns' lives. It's pretty awesome! But for now, here is the rest of the list in action. I hope to keep this short. 

We will begin with #25: My husband's graduation and PAR-TAY on December 8th. I documented this one. Enjoy the photos!

I started out the morning by surprising Mitch was a bow tie. He's just the cutest when he wears them! It was a success!



We then took a first class ride in his graduation present from his parents: a new truck! (Gilligan is in the background giddy with excitment about being able to be pulled by Gary- the name we gave the truck)

Samford Hall

 Oh yeah, he's going places!



And then, we partied- complete with steak, baked potatoes, grape salad, and CAKE!

And now for the rest of the list. I'll start back at the top:

#2: Work on my sister's "scrapbook"
I had an idea back in April for my sister and I to start a scrapbook each to give to the other at Christmas. This scrapbook could include anything we wanted to share with the other: things we've learned in our first year of marriage (she and I got married two and a half months apart), things God has shown us through the year, our favorite recipes, etc. It was actually like a personal blog to my sister in paper form. Because we live so far away from each other, this helped us to keep each other in mind throughout the year and share personal things that would otherwise be hard to say over the phone. Big success!

#3: Eat out less... WAY less.

I'm not sure if I totally achieved this goal. With money tight for us, we already had to be aware of how many times we ate out. I think we did a pretty good job seeing as how we still have money at the end of the year. God provides!

#6: Go camping- preferably in North Carolina

Well, we didn't make it to North Carolina, but we did go to Cheaha State Park... twice. The first was in March before I started this blog. We went with some friends of ours. Being March, the days were perfect and the nights were chilly which made fires extra cozy.

The second time was with Mitch's family. His sister wanted to take her kids for the first time. This made me look forward to when we have kids and can take them camping. I have such fond memories with my family growing up! That's all we ever did for vacation!
This time it was in October. Another beautiful time of the year. It was much colder then and our first night was a doozy! We did eat like kings and queens though! Mitch made a make-shift grill to place directly over the fire. He's such an engineer! I think my nieces really enjoyed it. And I hope they can look forward to the next time they get to go!

#9: Learn something new about my husband

At the moment, I can't pinpoint a specific thing that I learned about him. I did think about this goal often this year, and I can most certainly say I know my husband better than I did a year ago. This goal is going on my lifetime goal's list.

#11: Make gifts instead of buying them
I didn't get as crafty as I wanted to this year (working full time really does take up your FULL time). However, I managed to squeak out a few homemade gifts. My first was coasters out of terracotta pot holders. You can find out how to make them yourself by going here. I made them for a friend who got married! I think it's a nice personal touch if you can't find any coasters you like. And they are cheap to make!

My second homemade gift was vanilla extract. That's right! Vodka + vanilla beans = vanilla extract. Here's a more detailed guide on how to make it. I made this for my brother-in-law who actually went to culinary school and is a whiz in the kitchen! It was basically a year's supply of extract for a lot less than you can buy in the store!

#14: Exercise at least twice a week

In the summer, a friend and I started going to Zumba about once a week. I love Zumba! And then another friend of mine suggested kickboxing, so we started going to that... I don't love kickboxing as much as Zumba, but I sweat a whole lot more when kickboxing. That probably means it's better for me.

And THEN, I heard of a program called Couch to 5K that was free and at a convenient time (aka after work). We met twice a week (goal= check!) and did intervals of walking and running over a period of two months- decreasing the walking and increasing the running each week. I also tried to squeeze in a third run toward the end of the program to keep the pace going. At the end, we signed up for a 5K and I ran the whole thing! That's something I've wanted to do, but couldn't get the motivation to do it. The key is to start small. It did take me about 36 minutes to finish. I guess I'm proud of that. But I'm most proud of running jogging the whole time. This is going on my list again for 2013.

#15: Get better at putting up the laundry... and the dishes

I started out strong, I promise! This was a goal mainly for the hubs. We all have our special chores that just HAVE to be done. Mine is clearing the clutter. It just bothers me when things are out of order. My husband's are the laundry and the dishes- something I've never been good at! However, marriage is about laying down yourself for the sake of the other. And I can completely understand why these things are important to him. I'm just not good at it! I'm still a work in progress and I'm going to pull the "full time job" card again for my reason why I'm not a master at it yet. I would say though that I achieved the goal: I am BETTER at it!

#17: Slip-n-slide party
I tried, guys! The hubs just didn't think it would be that fun... I believe he is wrong on this one. So I didn't achieve it, but I really did try!

#22: Learn to be determined
I started realizing at the beginning of the year that I can do anything I want. I don't mean that in an arrogant way either. I mean, I have the ability to do what I want. I can make decisions AND act on those decisions. This might seem trivial to you, but learning this really freed me of some things.

#23 Auburn football (war eagle.)
I bought student season tickets this year. However, it wasn't a good year to spend money on a thing like that. If you saw any of Auburn's games, you understand. It was still fun to be in the stadium and go crazy with my fellow fans. It truly is great to be an Auburn Tiger!

And that wraps it up! I bid farewill to 2012 now and welcome 2013 with open arms. There are some exciting things in the future, so stick around!

I pray blessings over your new year! May you see God in new ways and feel His presence more than you ever have!