Christmas 2009

Christmas Morning Highlights...

Next Door consisted of Christmas dinner (... oh, the turkey and dressing, the green bean casserole, the creamed potatoes, the rolls and mandarin salad, with fudge and rice krispy treats to follow) and opening of presents.
Tisdale Christmas get-together. After sitting around and snacking on food, we opened gifts to each other and then played Dirty Santa.

Stevie Ray

Dirty Santa gifts... just waiting to be unwrapped

Uncle Scott Tisdale playing some Led Zeppelin

Dirty Santa Highlights

Prayer

Jessica and Ryan Moore have been pastoring Causeyville Baptist Church for nearly 4 months now, and tonight I had the chance to visit. My aunt and uncle from California (soon to be Mississippians again) went also, and the three of us rode together. The church was small but filled with nice, sweet people. The building was really pretty inside as well.

When it came time to preach, Ryan stepped up to the plate (with new, SWEET black with turquoise paisley printed tie!) and made us open to Matthew 6:5-15... the Lord's Prayer. To be honest with you, the first thoughts that went through my head were "another Lord's Prayer sermon. I've heard so many of these in my 22 years." But as Ryan read through the scripture and picked out pieces of interest, it started speaking to my heart.

For one, the Lord's Prayer begins with "Hallowed be Your name" (verse 9)... it begins with worship, as it should! It just blows my mind -I'm talking Hiroshima/Nagasaki atomic explosion- that the God of the universe, the God that took absolutely nothing and created EVERYTHING so intricately also takes time to hear each and every one of our prayers. And regardless of the fact that He already knows what is on our heart, He still listens intently and feels our pain, our sorrows, our fears, our joys and hopes. He deserves our praise!

Next, He wants us to forgive others just as He forgives us (v. 14-15). This is sometimes easier said than done. But as Ryan stated, it just seems so stupid that we hold on the hurt/pain that others have caused us. We linger over things that hurt us and continue to let them rule portions of our life... when we can give it to God and forgive the person, just as Jesus did.

The from Luke 1-13, Ryan made note that the guy did not lend his friend food so late at night because the guy was his friend. It was because the guy was so persistant. And the same we, we should be persistant with our prayers. There should not be a limit of time that put our hands on our hips and say, "Ok, God. You just don't care about this so I'm done praying about it." No! We must continue to pray. Ryan told a story of one guy's ministry, and how this guy prayed for the conversion of 5 people. It took 18 months for one to accept Christ as his/her savior. There was a 5 year time span before the second person accepted Christ into their life, six years before the third was converted. And the guy was STILL praying every single day for 36 years later for the other two! Amazing! God does answer prayers, so do not give up. Ryan also point out 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing."

And the more I listened, the more excited I got. I have not been exercising my prayer life very well recently... I'll admit it. And there is just SO many things that I need to be on my knees about. And not only do I need to get my lips flapping to God, but I need to start sitting down/shutting up/listening to God speak.

There's a song by Switchfoot that I love to blare in the car and yell the lyrics at the top of my lungs while having my face reflect the emotion of the words. The bridge of the song goes like this:

"What direction? ...... What direction?? ...... What direction?! Life begins at
the intersection! What direction? What direction? What direction now?

There's boatload of times that I want to yell these words outload in real life. I mean, I only have a semester left in college. Then what? Grad school? No grad school? Work and then grad school? Work? What branch of work? Work where? Stay in Mobile? Go back home? Go else where? Relationship status? Family's advice... friend's advice... advisor's advice... etc. Just so many questions and scenarios can be conjured up!

But yet favorite song of mine (by Sanctus Real) pops into my head:

"Got a funny feeling that I'm gonna go away. Gonna face my future; gonna
try to make the grade. Got a ways to go from here, and... vision doesn't seem to
clear, BUT praise! God has got a plan. Understanding isn't my place!"

You know, I look at my aunt and uncle and their recent step of faith. After pastoring Ojai Valley Baptist Church for 19 years, they are being led to come back to Mississippi to begin a new ministry: Unchanging Truth Ministries International, a ministry to train pastors from 3rd world countries (currently Uganda, but soon branching out to Kenya, India, etc) who have NO knowledge of basic theology. All they know is that God wants them to be in Mississippi. They do not know where they will be staying, where their income will be coming from, what they will be doing... but yet, they go anyway knowing that God will supply their every single need. Wow...

So the lesson learned from tonight, go to God in prayer! Be persistent with your requests. Convey your thoughts, but definitely take time to listen for God's voice and guidance. I am so excited! I know that I will not get all of the answers that I am hoping for right away, but I do know that G0d will put me right where He wants me to be if I will shut up, listen, and then go do whatever He is wanting of me. And so it begins. This is not going to be easy for me, with classes/studying aka the-hectic-life about to begin again. But I pray that God will give me the strength and the dedication to set aside time everyday to spend with Him.

Thanks, Ryan, for an awesome lesson. Sorry I doubted your topic choice. I was wrong. Please forgive.
P.S. - I forgive you for all those times you yelled "shut up" to me on the phone while I was conversating with my sister.

Surprise Visit

After hearing this loud "meow" by the door of the Messenger, my mom and I ran outside to see what it was. Little Kitty hung out in the Messenger about 45 minutes after that. The kitten was cute but way too much of a hassle.

DBC Christmas Festivities

Alex McLelland singing a few Christmas songs after the children's program.

Saturday Saints Football

One of the only things that I wanted to do with my father while I was home during Christmas break was watch the Saints-Cowboys game. Jessica and Ryan opened up their home (and fridge... the potato soap and bar-b-que was awesome), and we all had a great night... minus the loss.

A clip from the end of the game, as the Saints were attempting make a comeback.

Just How Blessed You Really Are

I have lived in Kemper County my whole life, and I have known for a long time that this place just does not have a lot of opportunity. The older I get, the more I see it... with businesses closing down, main street looking like a ghost town, and the mindset of the residents being stuck in the past. But all of the changes and challenges of home have really hit me since I have been back from Mobile for Christmas break.

My mom has been helping this lady that lives in the county. This lady has two children under the age of 6 and no husband, no means of transportation, and a pathetic income. She basically has to survive off of other people. I have heard my mom talk about her and her condition, but I got a first-hand experience last Wednesday. I was working at the Kemper County Messenger with my mother when Wanda walked in. But Wanda's grammar and her thick southern accent clued me in that there was not a lot of education in her past. She had asked my mom to take her to Meridian to pick up toys at the Wesley House for her kids' Christmas. My mom agreed and rushed to get her work done in order to be in Meridian by 4pm. They all returned just in time for church, which afterwards my mother took her back home in the middle of nowhere. I was asked to go with them and did. It just broke my heart to think that she and the kids were living at the mercy of other people.

And today, a lady in town called my mom and asked if there was any way that she could bring them food. "They did not have anything to eat." Now this lady's husband was a veteran, but he was in a nursing home in Meridian. She was living in their old house with her daughter, and all they were receiving was a measly social security check. So after church, I ran with my mom to the dollar store and then to the lady's house. I helped carry in the groceries into this unclean, junky house. There was honestly stuff everywhere that you had to watch your step. And the smell of cats and uncleanliness reeked order... it just made me stand there in silence and pity.

To top things off, my father mentioned that one of the guys that he works with told him to be looking for job offers... aka getting laid-off is a very serious possibility. And to hear him say, "I have worked all of my life and finally got a job with insurance and now they are going to take that away from me." I could just cry for a day. I will say that choices in the past do influence the present, but still this is a heart-breaking reality for many people living in this area. It honestly breaks my heart and intrigues me how DeKalb vs Meridian vs Mobile have such startling differences!

And all the while, I have moments of weakness. There are times that I sit down and think, "Man, I wish I had this. I really want that, but there's no way I can get it. I wish I could just go buy an outfit or run to the store and get this and that. Or how I wish that I had the funds to buy a pair of red heals or take a road trip or go see this movie or buy this for my parents or blah blah blah." ... then it hits me: Seriously? Seriously... am I really having a pity-party over things that I cannot have?? How can I when there are tons of people that have it way worse than me, people with no food, no car, no job, no extra anything.

So next time you want to plop on the floor with a tissue in hand, think about just how blessed you really are.

Mark 4:41

One of my dreams: to have the know-how and guts of steel to ride a 5'3 peice of wood through a barreling 40 foot wave and live to tell about it.

Waves on the North Shore, along with the other classic locations across the world, have taken surfers lives. And beyond that, think about the what the conditions must be like in the Aluetian Low situtated in the North Pacific Ocean. The wind and waves would simply scare the roughest, toughest man possibly imagined.

With a love and desire for storms and water and waves, Mark 4:35-41 amazes me. It blows my mind that my God has the mere power to speak a couple of words and instantly calm the waves, the wind, the storm. What a mighty and awesome God He is!

"And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

- Mark 4:41

For the Love of the Game

Despite the cold weather, Fred and I made the decision to play tennis yesterday afternoon. We have not had the chance to play in a long time. Things were rough to begin with, but after warming up... we got our games on. I somehow mananged to so serve either wide right or left, just in the line so that Fred had to RUN to return the serve. He kept tapping balls just over the net, making me sprint for my life. And anyone near us was probably thinking, "???" as they heard us gripe and spit out sarcastic remarks about our own mistakes.

I won the first set 6-2... or maybe it was 6-3. I really can't remember. Fred asked to play another set, and so we did. After a looooooong set of games, Fred was victorious over me (7-6) winning the tie breaker. We played for over 2 hours! It was so much fun.

Beatles Rock Band

Frederick got Beatles Rock Band for his birthday and vowed not to play it until after exams were over... smart boy. So Wednesday, he invited friends over to play. Here are the highlights:

Sam and Miranda

Josh, with his game face on. This boy is wonder on the drums and guitar... crazy.

After Rock Band, we played Goldeneye (in which Fred dominated) and Mario Kart on the N64.

Joy Ride

After I got back from my Number Theory final Tuesday night, there were plans of Christmas gift exchanging as well as a trip downtown to see Miranda's artwork. A peice of her photography is on exhibit this month at the Mobile Arts Council. So... we went to check it out.

Ariel is SO excited for Ashley to open up her Christmas present: New Moon poster


Sam.... just being Sam. He was not a part of the gift exchange.
This boy was just early for his ride.

The girls: Ashley, I, and Ariel

We're here! Except... it was not open. So I took a picture as proof that we attempted to see Miranda's picture. Sad...

I do believe that the little frame to the left of the big, pink on is hers!

The group. We still had fun riding, parking, walking, going back to the car, driving again, and parking in front of the dorm.

Sweet Freedom!!

According to dictionary.com, Freedom [free-duhm]: 1. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. 2. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery. 3. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc. 4. ease or facility of movement or action. 5. the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will

Yesterday around 5:30pm after taking a Number Theory final, I walked out of Instructional Laboratory Building into sweet freedom. Fred, who was with me, and I could not stop thinking about, "No more tests. No more homework. No more studying. No more classes and listening and note taking and worrying about grades and deadlines... none." There was this ridiculous feeling of "now what am I going to do with myself??"

I have been looking forward to this day since the first or second week of classes. But I have to admit, there's a little bitterness to this oh-so-sweet moment. I always do this! I always have this sense of sadness when I am finally done with classes. (I know! My brain must be on crack!) But my classes, schedule, and classmates will not be the same next semester... bummer. The feeling has hit me today, but a little more than usual. This is my second to last semester... I will begin classes only more time as an undergraduate. (sigh...)

But back to the bright side, I have a whole month off to (a) catch up on sleep/rest (b) go home and hang out with family and friends and (c) enjoy the Kemper County slow-pace of things.

"Thank You, Lord, for getting me through this semester! All glory to grades
and accomplishments go straight to Him."

"Trust Me"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understandings.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. "
-Proverbs 3:4-5

Trusting, at least for me, is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes I feel like I need a "Doubting Thomas" stamped on my forehead. It's not that I do not trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I think it's the fact that I like concete things... things I can see, touch, and hear. I want to hear God say, "Hey, do this. Listen, don't worry about that. I've got your back. Trust Me."

The future is this BIG blank page in front of me. And I've been wanting to write all over that page recently. There is the feeling of "I've got to have a game plan." But I can't get a hold of a pen or pencil that will write!

This morning after two of my roommates left and one asleep, I had the place to myself. Nice, quiet place to myself. With nothing to distract me, my mind starting drifting back to worries about the future. The more I thought about things, the more upset I became. "This is so stupid!" I thought.

It was at that point that I realized that I needed to take my cargo-load of worries, concerns, and emotions straight to the One who has the game plan. He already knew what was and has been on my mind, but I poured out my heart regardless. I had so many questions that I wanted answered right then. "Lord, what is going to happen with this? And I'm really wanting this. Is it in Your will for me?" The response that I kept getting, "You've been focusing on the wrongs things recently. I need to be your first and foremost focus. Trust me. I know what is best for you. (aka I am the One who holds the pen/pencil that fill in the blank page.) Trust me. Jaclyn, trust me."

My current status: "Work in Progress"
My current goal: "Replace worries with Proverbs 3:4-5"

Perspective-ness

"Between [Jesus] and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlamagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creation of our genious? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour, millions of men would die for Him." --Napoleon

This was a quote from an old Sunday school lesson on the uniqueness of God. ... I love how Napoleon put things in perspective. If we conquer our world, our careers, our lives, etc, what's the point? But, OH, how the love of Christ can change the world, those around us, our lives.

Perdido Key Date

The Friday before Thanksgiving break, Frederick Schmidt took Jaclyn Tisdale to Peridio Key, Florida for the afternoon. The conditions were perfect: not chilly, not too windy, sunny, clear, warm in the sun. Lunch on the beach, in the form of ham and pb&j sandwiches with water, was provided by Mr. Schmidt. The afternoon was filled with relaxing on a lonely beach as well as the throwing of a football. The highlight of the night was dinner at Coach N Four Steakhouse, again provided by Mr. Schmidt. A lovely day ended with a movie at Frederick's place of residency. The highlights are as follows:

At the Pot-O-Gold again... couldn't pass up this picture opportunity

Trying to hit sea gulls with a football... it's become tradition.

Throwing the football was probably what we did for the majority of our time there.

Camera timer. Tripod. Strong guy. Tight-girl.

= fun and awesome pictures

Peridio Key waves

"The Tackle"

"A delightful series of shots depicting a quality tackle that will make you jump and cheer while possibly shedding a tear." - Entertainment Weekly critic

"Tackle: The 2nd Attempt"

Critics claim that the title is misleading. "This was going somewhere, but it's like the main actress hit a brickwall of some sort." - New York Times critic

Ready to eat.

"It was a beautiful day. Don't let it get away. Beautiful day."