Archive | June, 2008

Sweaty Sundays

30 Jun

Every Sunday, I take much care and time to get myself ready for church. I pick out my clothes the night before, I wash – dry – and style my hair, I put on clinical stregth deodorant, and I meticulously do my makeup.

Mark and I always have to be at the church before 8 am so I consider it a great sacrifice to get myself primped up for church.

Every Sunday, without fail, I worship so hard during practice that I sweat. Not just a little bit, but I sweat to the point of my makeup running, my hair soaking and my armpits staining. It’s quite unattractive and uncomfortable for me. Then, when it’s time for service, I feel like a damp, smelly puppy-dog.

Every Sunday, I think of a quote from my pastor from Roswell, NM – Pastor Jon Ogle:

You should come to church looking like heaven and leave looking like hell

Meaning – WORSHIP YOUR FACE OFF. Worship from your gut. Your outer appearance means nothing to God (even on stage). Let the tears pour and the sweat drip from your brow.

All Shook Up

27 Jun

Last night, Mark and I came home after band practice and we had a dream session.

Do you ever do that? We talked about the things we are excited about in our church, our lives and our future. We got all pumped up – it was 9 pm at night and we were jumping up and down and talking as fast as we could.

I love these moments. These are defining moments. Sections of time where you have so much clarity and so much direction. I wish I had a recording of last night to replay when I’m feeling down, depressed or lost.

Here’s a few things stirring in our hearts right now:

  1. Our church is amazing
  2. The volunteers at our church are even more amazing. Guys like Sean and Josh are writing music, leading worship, faithfully (and joyfully) serving – and not getting paid a dime to do it! AWESOME!!!
  3. The music at our church is transformational and needs to be heard worldwide
  4. We can step up RIGHT NOW and be every change that we wish to see in our lives, church, and world!

That’s just a peek and I’m sure you’ll keep hearing about what’s going on and what God is stirring in us.

Are you pumped up about what God is doing?

Financially Stable

26 Jun

All of the cars in the ProLogis parking lot are new and nice. We are a growing, thriving, and global company (one of the few in the world) and it shows.

I’m so blessed to work here. It’s so good to see the people of this company flourishing. I want the same for the people at my church. I want them to be blessed financially and I want them all to be able to flourish.  Can a church be growing, thriving, and global too????

Jesus talked about money and possesions all of the time and yet so many people squirm in church when finances or money is talked about. The CEO of my company, Jeff Schwartz, was quoted as saying:

We are striving to build a truly sustainable enterprise, one that delivers enduring value.

Now, that’s what I call a mission statement.

Have I been working at corporate too long??

Good-Bye Vegas, Hello Denver

25 Jun

Mark and I had a lovely time in Vegas celebrating our 5-year anniversary.

Here are some thoughts from Vegas:

  1. Taxi drivers can save your life and tell you everything you need to know about Vegas (a whole other blog post)
  2. Vegas is only fun if you have alot of money to spend.
  3. It’s hotter than Hades, but you don’t burn – WEIRD!
  4. There are CHILDREN EVERYWHERE in Vegas – WHY!?!?!?
  5. One Vegas block = One mile
  6. Do not walk on the sidewalk in Vegas in June at 3 pm in the afternoon.
  7. Don’t expect anything.
  8. You have to look for trouble to find it.
  9. Don’t eat at the buffet at the Wynn.
  10. Always buy the $1 bottled water from the lady selling it from a cooler on the street – that’s the cheapest item you will buy in Vegas and it can save your life.

Are you going on vacation this summer!?!?!

Mark and Judi in Vegas

We are lame…but that’s OK

23 Jun

How do I know that Mark and I are ready to be parents???

We are researching earlier flights home from Vegas because we really miss our cats (and Bella-Free) – I think that’s a sign that we are ready to leave a life of cheap thrills for a life filled with beautiful memories at home with a family.

Can’t wait to see you all in moderate temperatures in Denver.

Live from VEGAS

22 Jun

For updates on our awesome Vegas vacation, check out Mark’s blog: Denver In Translation

I didn’t really need any reminders, but being in a strange place where the only person I know is my husband, really makes me love and appreciate him so much more. He is a STUD!

Ask and You Shall Receive

19 Jun

This morning, after reading in 1 John 1:8 that says,

“if we claim to be without sin, we are deceived and the truth is not in us”

I asked God “What sin is possibly in my life right now???? What am I not seeing that is deceiving me???“

Well, not even 30 minutes later he revealed to me that my finances are not in such great shape and I am not financially devoted and stable as God would like me to be. My discipline SUCKS when it comes to finances.

Of course, He reveals this right before my big trip to VEGAS where I plan on blowing every last dime in my bank account on buffets, clothes, and Cirque de Soleil shows. WHY, GOD, WHY?!????!? Why do you have to tell me this now….oh yeah, because I asked….

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE! The word of God is true and just. If you ask God with a heart to listen, he will tell you the truth – be ready for it!

What are you asking God to tell you? Is your heart ready for the answer???

 

Lost In Love

18 Jun

Sonicare Toothbrush

Today is the first day of my week-long, 5 year anniversary vacation!

Today, I am lost in love with my husband. 

Today, I know he really loves me back…do you want to know how I know???

We share a Sonicare electric tooth brush (one electric base…two brush heads). He ALWAYS ALWAYS changes the head to my brush for me. So at any time, I can pick up the brush and it always is ready for me. 

This may sound lame, but to me, this is a sign of love. Real love. Sacrificing love. Married kind of love. 

How do you know when it’s true love?

 

Don’t Post in Haste

16 Jun

Mark and I have learned a very important lesson in blogging this week: don’t post in haste.

On separate occasions this week, Mark and I have hurt people through our blogs – people we love dearly. Hurt them to the point of tears and to the point where we have had to ask for lots of forgiveness from God and the people we hurt.

Even though a blog can be a place to vent our thoughts,
we need to run to God with those thoughts before we run to our blog. 

We are searching our hearts for any other anger or bitterness we might have in our hearts so that we can take it to God to deal with. We refuse to let these blogs be places for Satan to use for harm. 

What lesson have you learned about blogging?

Side Pony Tail

16 Jun

Well, in my last post I forgot to mention that my hair was also in a side pony tail at my CEO’s house – A SIDE PONY TAIL. I was at my CEO’s house to babysit his daughter because he was having a private event at his home. Little did I know that the event included some of Denver’s most prestigious and prominent leaders – including some of my colleagues. I didn’t think I would be seen by anyone and I wanted to dress silly to have fun with his daughter. Well, I was seen by all…

This is me when I was 5…and this is how I felt on Thursday night:

The Real Judi

I learned something very special through this experience: I am ME! That is a great thing. I will always be me – even when I feel like conforming.

I will never conform, I will never back down, I won’t stop telling people about Jesus and I won’t feel bad about who I am.

When I look at the picture above…I can’t help but smile. I hope you can smile today about who you are.

We are young and we are FREE! We can change this world and do things that make a difference….all of this from a side pony tail, some sequin, leggings and POLKA DOT thongs with more sequin on them.

Embarrassed of Me…

13 Jun

I had an elementary school moment last night. I didn’t have the coolest clothes, the best hair, the thinnest body, or the cultured language…and I was embarrassed of me.

So Embarrassed

I felt so stupid when I got home last night because I know who I am, I know I’m a child of God, and I feel like I’m a confident leader, but somehow I still get caught up in stupid mind games. URG! Will it ever stop?

Will I feel this way when there’s a better mommy or a more accomplished marketing professional standing in front of me? At what point will I not be plagued with embarrasment because I’m not dressed quite right for an event?

Are there any stories in the bible where someone was wearing the wrong outfit…I guess so…David danced himself to the point of nakedness and had no embarrassment. HA! NAKED! If David can dance naked, I can wear a sequin shirt with leggings and flip flops (yes…that is actually what I wore) to a CEO’s home.

What can you do?!?!?!

Opportunity for Joy

12 Jun
  1. Today, we paid $872 in car repairs to our new (we got it in May last year) Passat
  2. Last night, we said our final goodbyes to Pastors Ben & Holly
  3. Mark & I still aren’t pregnant

And then…I read James 2:

2 when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

When TROUBLES come…you have an OPPORTUNITY for JOY. It’s the only way God can grow your faith and make you perfect and complete!

What troubles are you facing….can you stir up your faith to get some joy today?

Don’t Misquote Me

11 Jun

Yesterday, I attended a community event for the upcoming DNC in Denver in August. To my shock, I was in the Rocky Mountain News today….crazy public forums! I don’t even think that’s what I said, but it sounds pretty good anyway:

Judith Thomas - DNC, Rocky Mountain News

Pickle Juice Sno-Cones

10 Jun

I’ve been writing about alot of deep things that “plague” me, so I wanted to lighten things up around here with a simple question:

What GROSS/CRAZY/WEIRD food did you eat as a child,
but you thought it was totally normal at the time??!?!?!

My friends and I have been discussing this for some time. It’s so hilarious to hear what some people ate as children – our parents were so cruel!

When I was a child…we ate pickle juice sno-cones – and I still think they are delicious!

Pickle Juice Sno-Cone

Above Reproach

6 Jun

There are some awesome things happening at our Church and in our lives. With everything in side of us, we feel like revival is imminent. Transition and change is sweeping through our lives…growth is everywhere.

Mark and I took a very difficult look at our lives yesterday. We know that we must prepare for this new time in our lives. It’s time to investigate seemingly innocent pleasures in our life that might lead to destruction down the road. As a result of that investigation…I bring everyone some very sad news…. 

I JUST CANCELLED OUR CABLE SUBSCRIPTION!!!

Yes, it’s true…we have been slaves to our TV – the reality shows, Japanese game shows, and mindless sitcoms. We have not been able find time to read our bibles, write songs, or spend time with God because we sit and stare at the TV for hours.

God helps us!  Oh yeah…no more SATC for me…

NO MORE CABLE!

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