Better than Chocolate...

As I've been on this topsy-turvy journey of 'what in the world should I do with this life?' I've realized a few things about happiness.

I've always heard that money doesn't make a person happy. But, I always thought that was just something parents told their children so they wouldn't be disappointed if they weren't rich one day. 'Ah, you don't wanna be rich like them. Money doesn't make you happy anyways.' Riiiight. But, I honestly now believe it. And not just because I don't have much money. Or I think that's why anyways. :) All you gotta do is just take a look at the lives of many celebrities...chaos. Or all those people who win the lottery...divorce, family feuds, murder! Now don't get me wrong, money can help solve many problems and make life easier, but it alone doesn't make people happy.

And you and I both know those people who are 'married to' their jobs. Workin 100 hours a week to be the best, or to get rich (come on folks, did you not read the above paragraph?!), and to move up the corporate power ladder. It's actually kinda sad the way work can consume one's life and become one's all in all. I was headed in that direction myself and know that it doesn't make one happy.

So what is it? What's the key to happiness? Obviously, if you've read my blog before you know I'm going to say that salvation, and thus knowing that God has already won the battles we face, is the only way to true joy. That even in the darkest of times, where it seems there's no hope, that you can know that there IS hope, indeed. And that can lend happiness to the bleakest of days.

But, I've also discovered something else this year. Being surrounded by those who you love and who love you back is important to happiness. We were put on this earth to fellowship. With God ultimately. And with those around us.

I think we are the happiest when we are with people who are like-minded. I even read (msn.com) that spending quality time with people you love can strengthen your immune system! I don't doubt it for a second. who has time to be sick when you can't stop laughing and smiling?

My happiest times are easy to create. Hanging out at a friend's house just talking with my best girl friends, road trips with Robyn, laughing with my sister, visiting family on holidays, or eating dinner with my parents. They're happy times because these people love me and make me smile. These are people I know I can count on, trust, and share secrets with.

Loneliness is one of the worst feelings in the world. So if you don't have someone who loves you, who makes you smile...then be that person to someone around you who is lonely. I guarantee you, you will make a fast friend. I'm not trying to offer 'Lessons On Life by Lindsay' or anything, but I am excited to share about something that could help with your happiness! You all know how much I LOVE CHOCOLATE. Creme-filled. Fruit-filled. Nougat-filled. Peanutbutter-filled. Cakes, cookies, brownies, pies...but being around people who love you, well, that's even better than chocolate.

when the WAITING is the hardest...

Does your mood ever echo the weather? Like yesterday when it was B-E-A-UTIFUL outside, it was easy to feel weightless and carefree. Ready to laugh and have fun. Then today...ick. Gray skies. Brown grass. Trees with no leaves. Colllddd. It's easy to want to mope and be lazy. Weather really does affect how we feel a lot.

It's the same way when everything seems to be going wrong in your life. It can feel like gray skies all the time. Many of you know I was laid off from my job as a news reporter. So, at the age of 25 (it really does feel old!) I had to move home with my parents. Away from most of my friends and all the 'action.' I've sort-of been having a 'career-crisis,' as I'm not sure where God would have me go next.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a job pretty much constantly since then, but as far as a 'career,' I'm still trying to decide what to do. It has been really hard. There are so many things I've never considered before, and lots of jobs that I think I could do well and enjoy. How to choose which direction to take your life in, when there are so many that could be right?

By praying. Tilling the soil (aka doing the work: applying for jobs, trying new things) and trying the doors God opens. Sounds so simple. Unless there are no open doors. You've heard it said,'the waiting is the hardest part.'

Geesh! It's true. In a society where we all want it NOW, or where you're only as good as the job you hold...it's hard to slow down and take a look around. It's tough to say no to the quick and easy, while waiting on the best.

A couple of years ago, before I got my job at WPDE, NewsChannel 15 I was offered a good job at a bank. I had no other job offers at the time. Everything in the world said I should've taken the job. But, as soon as the man offered it to me, I had a feeling (Holy Spirit) that it wasn't right for me. That was it, a feeling.

BUT, I had been praying about it a lot. That 'feeling' was my answer. I knew God's will was for me to be a reporter. More waiting. Trusting. Hoping. I felt like an idiot when I told my Dad I turned the job down. I knew people thought I was crazy. But I KNEW God had something else for me.

Not too long afterwards, I sent my tape in to NewsChannel 15. The rest is history. If I had taken that job at the bank, I probably wouldn't have even applied at the TV station. And I would've gone to work every day knowing I wasn't in God's will.

At almost the very second my boss told me they couldn't afford to pay me anymore, I knew I was supposed to come home. It wasn't easy going from working a great job, being totally independent to coming home with nothing. It's still not fun to tell people I live at home right now.

It's easy to get discouraged about my future and see only gray skies ahead. But, since I've been here I've had several confirmations that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. This 'waiting' has been longer and harder than the last one, but God was faithful then and He never changes.

Some verses that help me:

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a futre.'

Romans 8:28
'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, for those who have been called according to His purpose.'

Deuteronomy 4:31
'For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.'

2 Timothy 2:13
'if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.'

God loves sinners!

It's true. We tend to have the mindset that God loves us more when we are more righteous, when we don't make mistakes, and always walk in His will. Especially in the South, legalism and 'religion' can play a big part in our beliefs. We surely please God more when we walk in His will and the benefits to our lives are much greater,but we can't earn our way into Heaven by not sinning. God knew us before we were born and decided He loved us enough to let His son, Jesus, die a horrible death for us. We've heard about it and read it so many times that it's easy to be like, 'yeah, yeah, I know, He was crucified for my sins,' and go on with our lives.

But think about it from our 'modern' perspective. So let's say your boyfriend cheated on you with your best friend. Ouch. And she told everyone bad things about you and turned people against you. Then she was held at gunpoint and the only way to save her was if you took her place. Would you do it?

We are like that girl. We tell God we are His, then we cheat on Him and break His heart constantly. We ignore Him or put Him on our 'to do' list after Wal-Mart. Yet every single time we repent (ask for forgiveness and truly mean to flee from that sin) He takes us back and washes us clean with His son's blood.

At NewSpring's Christmas Eve service, Pastor Perry Noble reminded me of the story of the prodigal son. This kid had everything. A loving family, a big house, servants, tons of food, a job. But he didn't like his job. His family was getting on his nerves. We've all been there before. So Mr. Prodigal asks His father for his inheritance (before his Dad has even passed away! selfish much?), takes his money and goes to Europe to party. Surprise, surprise, he squanders it all. Then the economy in his new hometown takes a dive. The Bible says the former rich kid was so poor he had to get a job as a servant feeding pigs, when before he had servants who had servants to do that!

Why did he do all of this? Because his focus was on the wrong thing. He never realized what was important, what he had. I know I can identify with being stubborn and prideful and selfish. It took Mr. Prodigal reaching the very bottom before he realized it.

In Luke 15: 17 - 20 the Bible says, "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father." Mr. Prodigal wasn't just sorry he ran out of money, he understood how he needed to change and how he had broken his father's heart.

So Mr. Prodigal starts his long trek home. When I was younger I was mad that his Dad didn't punish him more. It wasn't fair that the other son had to stay at home and work while Mr. Prodigal got to party and have all that time to realize he needed to go home. And he was welcomed back just like that with open arms.

But now I realize that this is a picture of God's heart for us. Back in the old days when this story would've happened, what Mr. Prodigal did to his family was punishable by death. So his journey back to his family was a dangerous one for him, and anyone who welcomed him back. Not only did his father welcome him back, he ran to meet him where he was!!!

Coming back home required Mr. Prodigal to realize his wrongs, truly change his ways (he left the country!), give up his selfish living, and ask his father to forgive him. God wants to forgive us, to welcome us back with open arms, no matter how far we've strayed, what we've done, or how long we've been gone. Just like Mr. Prodigal was separated by countries,sin separates us from God. But, He knew what we would do before we were born. He still chose to love us and create each of us. Because you see, God has a heart for sinners. He's willing to meet us where we are, but he loves us too much to let us stay in that sin.

A Haitian gives us updates:

I've been so burdened for the people of Haiti. I can't imagine the devastation and chaos there. The orphans who now may have no one to watch over them. The babies and kids with nobody to turn to and nowhere to go. The adults who have no way to provide or protect themselves and their families. The innocent who are vulnerable to looters and violence. The people who have no way to get food or clean drinking water in to their land. Please pray for them. Here is a note from my friend, Emmanuel, who lives in Haiti. He became one of my dear friends when I lived in the Dominican Republic.


"Every 30 minutes to an hour the house rumbled and shook from the after shocks of the earthquake that has divested the capital, Port-au-Prince. It was hard to sleep wondering if you should run, wait or ignore it. All I could think about was the thousands that had no where to sleep in Port-au-Prince 60 miles from our city, St. Marc. We were up early to see the video footage and pictures of the Presidential Palace destroyed and so many other buildings we once knew. We feel in some ways as helpless as the victims in Port-au-Prince in the since of shock and not knowing what to do or where to start. Communications are still down, airport is closed for today so we have decided to send in a observation team to see what connections they could make. Haiti has no infrastructure much less a crisis management team. I suspect that PAP is crying even louder this morning as the reality of their situation tumbles on them.
We are thinking through how this impact will affect St. Marc and the population here. Fuel, electric communications, food and construction supplies all route through PAP. Today we are ok, but what about in a few days or week. Where are the refugees going to be going since there is little living space in PAP? Pray for us and our observation team!"

10 Little Surprises You May Not Want to Know...

I've been putting this off for a few weeks because I can't think of ten interesting things you don't know, but would enjoy knowing, about me. My cousin (whose blog http://bowlingfamilymoments.blogspot.com/ is always so fun to read!) posted ten fun-facts about herself on her blog, then challenged me to do the same. I feel like my blog is always so serious - I just have to blog about things that 'get my goat,' I can't help myself - so maybe this will be fun. Here we go:

1. Music. I can't sing, I don't do instruments, but I can play the radio! I LOVE to dance. Hip-hop. Shagging. Line dancing. You name it, I like it (not sure about my crumping abilities though). I've discovered more and more that I LOVE music. Music with a good beat sets my foot to tappin' every time. But, the thing I love most about music is the effect it has on our emotions. Take country music, for example. My sis hates it. She, along with a lot of others, thinks it's too twangy and always about your dog dying, boyfriend cheatin', etc. Sometimes it is kinda stupid. (Aaron Tippin's 'Kiss This' anyone?) But, sometimes it can brighten your day (Sugarland's 'I ain't Settlin,' and David Lee Murphy's 'Dust On the Bottle.') If you're ever riding down the highway, pull up beside me and see me crying, know that I've just listened to 'Texas Tornado,' or 'Stars Over Texas' by Tracy Lawrence...or Third Day's 'Just to be with You.' Non-cheesy Christian music can make me cry at the drop of a hat. Classical music can calm me down. Oldies/beach music makes me want to be shaggin' on the beach somewhere or hanging out with my parents. So, even though I was definitely not blessed with singing talents, I truly appreciate those who have been and love a good beat. I've fallen in love with music.

2. My toenails are either red or pink. Always. For some reason I don't like any other colors on my feet.

3. One of my favorite memories is my high school graduation day. Not because I walked across the stage or got that piece of paper but because of what happened afterwards. My extended family and close friends gathered at my house, ate lunch, and then...played a long, intense game of pick-up baseball in our backyard. The weather was perfect, everyone was there, and I just remember thinking it was the perfect afternoon. I love the competition of sports, I love that people really pull together, I love when people give their all to something, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being outside. Though I'm terrified of balls flying at me in the outfield, I wish it happened every Sunday afternoon.

4. I hate flossing. (Good thing I know a GREAT dentist!)

5. I LOVE to bargain. Thanks to early Saturday morning trips to the jockey lot with my Dad growing up, I learned how to 'wheel and deal.'

6. Confession: I still watch Matlock when I can. (I'll blame that on my Dad, too.) And, with any other mystery book or movie, I just have to solve it before the narrator does.

Numero Siete: My friends say I'm an awful bed buddy. Apparently, I toss and turn, kick, talk, and grind my teeth. Oh, and I dream in Spanish a lot.

8. Lofty dreams: When I was little all I wanted to do with my life was bag groceries at Ingles. Mom used to drop me off at the check-out counter and I'd bag (and talk the clerk to death, for sure) groceries for hours. Then I told her I wanted to be a secretary so I could talk on the phone all day (been there, done that, don't wanna go back). One of my child-hood dreams was to grow up and wash dishes at a restaurant...when my family would go out to eat at Dendy's Corner in Abbeville, I would go back in the kitchen and be fascinated by the big sinks, filled with pretty blue liquid. I would wash to my (and the bus boy's) little heart's content. Again, been there, done that, no thank you. Then, in high school, I told my teacher (he loves to remind me of this) that I was going to be the next Katie Couric. His response, 'What about that strong Southern accent?' Me: 'That'll be my calling card.' Ha, what blind confidence and optimism. Little did I know they 'beat' that Southern accent out of you in college and at the tv stations. I'm proud that I worked hard and got my dream job. Turns out though, as you mature, sometimes your dreams evolve. Because I had my mind made up that I would be a reporter, I didn't allow consideration for anything else. Now, I'm searching for what God's 'dream' job is for this life.

9. I love to try new things. Especially new foods. Unless it's spicy. This may be how I got parasites in the Dominican Republic. (Never eat from a street vendor in a third world country.) This is also how I wind up with a lot of meals that I don't like. I'll go to a restaurant where I've found something on the menu that I've had and love, and order something else, just to try something new. A lot of times I kick myself for it afterward.

10. I read my first novel, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott,in 6th grade. I've been hooked on books ever since. Seriously, I can sit down with a good book for hours and not know anyone else is in the world (reading on the beach is my fav). (If I don't like the first 15 pages of a book, I'll read the last couple of pages and be done with it.) My parents used to pay me $1 for every 100 pages I read in elementary school, to encourage my love for reading. They eventually stopped paying me b/c I was reading so much. I think reading is where my love for writing, grammar, and spelling come from. Yes, I've just sealed my dorkiness for good, but I have to admit I used to get SO EXCITED about spelling bees. And while we're on that subject...your/you're and their/there/they're mistakes drive me crazy. Did you know I was such a dork? :)

Everywhere

I learned an important lesson yesterday. One I should've gotten a long time ago.

So I went to get my hair cut yesterday and well, was just expecting to get my hair cut and leave, per usual. God had other plans. Did you know he's everywhere? I knew, but yesterday it smacked me in the face.

I sit in the seat, all tucked into my protective shaw-thingy they always wrap around you, feet evenly spaced, looking straight ahead so as not to get a crooked cut, and my stylist (who has known me since college) says, 'tell me what's new with you.' I'm filling her in on my ups and downs of late and telling her that I'm not sure what career is right for me. I tell her I feel I've sorta been put in a holding place where intimacy with God is my number one priority. She stops cutting. Looks me straight in the eyes and says,' Are you totally sold out for Him?'

Okay, so let's stop right there. We're at her hair salon, this is supposed to be business. I remember a time in high school when a friend witnessed to someone on the job and other friends criticized him for that, saying that the professional setting is no place to talk about faith. Ashamedly, I agreed with them. Work is work. You shouldn't talk about things that may (heaven forbid) make someone uncomfortable or offend anyone. I mean, they might actually have to think on something you said! That's just unprofessional. Right?

So I'm sitting in my 'hair chair,' the nappy mess atop my head at this woman's mercy, thinking, 'is this the time and place for her to ask me this?' And then it hit me. He's everywhere. Anywhere and anytime is the right place to talk about the whole reason we're here. What kind of faith does it show if we box him in? If we can't talk about him from 8a-5p, can we talk about him at dinner with friends after? What about dinner with new people? Sporting events? Or should we just leave the God talk at church? If so, we're neglecting the entire basis of Christianity. To know Him and make Him known. Everywhere.

Turns out my stylist had some wise and encouraging advice that I desperately needed to hear. I could've politely stopped her and been out the door with my new hair cut. But I would've missed out on something precious that my Savior wanted to tell me! If He is truly Lord of my life, then He takes precedence over all else.

If we don't hear his voice audibly, how does he speak to us? The Bible, obviously. And the Bible says he uses dreams...and other people! Now I'm not saying we should go around spouting out Bible verses constantly and smacking people over the heads with our 'religion,' but I'm not boxing Him into Sunday mornings. We should 'walk the walk,' and not be afraid to 'talk the talk.'

In a world filled with politically correct rules there's little room for God to move. And we miss out on who knows what! So you can call me 'uncool,' or label me a Jesus 'freak' (there's no greater compliment, by the way), or tell everyone 'that Lindsay Tyner has turned into one of those crazy Christians. I mean, no one can relate to those types anyway.' It doesn't matter, cause I ain't missin out on anything He wants to share with me! Anytime. Everywhere.

Seriously, fellas, pay attention...

Okay so I just witnessed a man making a carnal mistake. I'm no sage, but every man needs this wise advice. And don't men just love taking advice from women? I thought so. :)

So the scene was as follows...
Woman was rantin and ravin (you know, talking with the hands, eyes narrowed, voice a little higher pitched than normal) and very upset about something. Not sure if it was something Mr. Man did, or just something she was upset about. And poor ole Mr. Man says, 'Honey, just RELAX.' Ohhhh boy.
W: 'RELAX?! You want me to RELAX?! I'll show you RELAXED!' Etc, etc.

When our blood pressure is boiling, we're not going to cool down because you wisely told us to 'relax.' More than likely, our tantrum will just rear its ugly head in your direction. When women rant it's because they want to be heard and understood. My advice to you is to listen (or at least nod and 'uh huh' every few seconds while you're computing your fantasy baseball stats) and then say, 'I want to help you make this better.' I guarantee you you will then be told how you can help. And she will be bragging to her friends the next day what a great problem-solver you are!

So, guys, when a woman around you (and I don't care how old or young she is) is going crazy about something, please, for your own sakes, do NOT tell her to relax. Don't even say it sweetly. Just avoid that word unless it's accompanied by a gift card for a day at the spa.