Wednesday, July 11, 2012
We're Having a Yard Sale!
So far Ben and I are having great success selling the Antique doors and windows we salvaged from an old 1915 house in Fort Worth last weekend. We're having a yard sale this weekend to sell the rest! And some other cool items we've collected :) Tell your friends! Hope to see you!
Yard Sale! Friday, 4PM-8PM; Saturday-Sunday 8AM-4PM
3417 W. 5th St
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Antique Doors & Windows from a 1915 Fort Worth house. Original wood, hinges, some original door handles, windows all original glass and all window panes intact.
Stereo Speakers, laptops, framed art, vintage Pyrex, records, books, t-shirts & more...
Find garage sales in fort-worth on Yard Sale Search
Sunday, April 15, 2012
wherever He leads, i'll go
Well the guys (Ben, Matthew & Jonathan) are working on cars outside and I am stuck inside sick with what I'm hoping is not turning into bronchitis. Figure this is prime blog update time. 
For the past 2 years around this time, I have been blogging Africa updates for all my friends & family supporters. This year, however, the Lord has not called me to Africa for Camp LIFE 2012. This is not the calling I was hoping for, but it came so clearly that I could not ignore it. Ben's sister, Katy, works for Family Legacy Missions who I have traveled to Zambia with for the past 2 years. This past fall, Ben and I attended a testimony time where Katy shared what great work this organization was doing and how we could support her. While listening to Katy's stories of how the orphans in Zambia had touched her life, I couldn't help but recall my own stories of these amazing orphans and the boys I've encountered in my Camp LIFE groups the past 2 years; specifically my sponsored child, Sweet Samuel - oh how I love him! While taking it all in, I cried out to God, "Father, can I please go back this summer?!" "NO." Clear as day. No more, no less...but a definite, "no." Tears filled my eyes and emotions overwhelmed me... "But, why not? Isn't it a good thing to go visit the orphans and widows? What will I do? God, why??" I excused myself to go to the bathroom and let the tears out as I processed God's answer. I knew that if I went to Zambia in 2012 it would be Shannon's will, not God's, and that is not an option. Besides my desire to be obedient to my Father, I know that there is no way I can accomplish a trip like that on my own.
Since that time, I've been praying for Zambia 2013. I am so excited to have Ben, dear friends and family members also praying about going to Zambia in 2013 too! I wait with great expectations of what God will provide; He never fails. While I'm still praying for local mission opportunities this summer, I have been unexpectedly, but completely BLESSED to support other friends who have been called to international missions this summer! It has been a humbling blessing to experience what it is like to be a part of a mission trip not by going myself, but by sending someone else. Supporting missionaries around the world is a crucial calling to all believers in order to further spread the glory of our God and make His name greatly known. Below is a list of missionaries that God has called to go overseas this summer. Please join me in praying for them and supporting them from home!
North Fort Worth Baptist Church - India - this trip already happened in February, but I pray that the seeds planted are being watered and growing.
North Fort Worth Baptist Church - Belize - specifically my baby brother, Jonathan! I'm SO proud of His obedience to follow God on his first foreign mission trip and I'm so excited to hear of the great things God will accomplish through this group. And I can't not mention my best friend Carly who is also following God in obedience to Belize...and hopefully back to Africa in 2013! After Belize, she will have officially been on a foreign mission trip with all the Ely kids ;)
Patty Gibson - Zambia, Africa - this is Ben's mom and I'm so thankful that she will be arranging for my sponsored child, Sam, and Ben's sponsored child, Solomon, to receive visits and gifts from us even though we can't deliver them ourselves. Patty is selling handmade baby onesies (newborn-24 months) to raise money to build a house for the orphans in Zambia! If you are interested in this ministry visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3709336770710.2174403.1194314221&type=3 "> or message me.
Katy Gibson - Zambia, Africa - As I mentioned earlier, Ben's sister works for Family Legacy Missions and needs daily prayer as she works so hard to raise self support so she can continue ministering to the orphans in Zambia throughout the year. To keep up with what the Lord is doing through Katy, you can follow her blog: http://www.chainsarebroken.blogspot.com/.
Ashley & Casey Roberts - Zambia, Africa - I LOVE this couple's passion for the orphans in Africa. Ashley also works full time for Family Legacy Missions and I admire her heart so much. What a sweet friend who I am truly blessed to know! They also have a blog you can check out: http://www.walkingbyfaithnotbysight.blogspot.com/.
Andrew Bradshaw - Nicaragua - It has been a blessing to see God move in this man's life! He is following God to serve at an orphanage in Nicaragua on his first mission trip as well this summer. If you feel led to support Andrew in his first mission trip, you can do so here: http://ebcgiv.convio.net/goto/andrewevans.
How's that for furthering the gospel around the world?!?! God is at work! Even if you can't physically go, please be a part of supporting missions through prayer, finances and encouraging those who are going.
Since that time, I've been praying for Zambia 2013. I am so excited to have Ben, dear friends and family members also praying about going to Zambia in 2013 too! I wait with great expectations of what God will provide; He never fails. While I'm still praying for local mission opportunities this summer, I have been unexpectedly, but completely BLESSED to support other friends who have been called to international missions this summer! It has been a humbling blessing to experience what it is like to be a part of a mission trip not by going myself, but by sending someone else. Supporting missionaries around the world is a crucial calling to all believers in order to further spread the glory of our God and make His name greatly known. Below is a list of missionaries that God has called to go overseas this summer. Please join me in praying for them and supporting them from home!
North Fort Worth Baptist Church - India - this trip already happened in February, but I pray that the seeds planted are being watered and growing.
North Fort Worth Baptist Church - Belize - specifically my baby brother, Jonathan! I'm SO proud of His obedience to follow God on his first foreign mission trip and I'm so excited to hear of the great things God will accomplish through this group. And I can't not mention my best friend Carly who is also following God in obedience to Belize...and hopefully back to Africa in 2013! After Belize, she will have officially been on a foreign mission trip with all the Ely kids ;)
Patty Gibson - Zambia, Africa - this is Ben's mom and I'm so thankful that she will be arranging for my sponsored child, Sam, and Ben's sponsored child, Solomon, to receive visits and gifts from us even though we can't deliver them ourselves. Patty is selling handmade baby onesies (newborn-24 months) to raise money to build a house for the orphans in Zambia! If you are interested in this ministry visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3709336770710.2174403.1194314221&type=3 "> or message me.
Katy Gibson - Zambia, Africa - As I mentioned earlier, Ben's sister works for Family Legacy Missions and needs daily prayer as she works so hard to raise self support so she can continue ministering to the orphans in Zambia throughout the year. To keep up with what the Lord is doing through Katy, you can follow her blog: http://www.chainsarebroken.blogspot.com/.
Ashley & Casey Roberts - Zambia, Africa - I LOVE this couple's passion for the orphans in Africa. Ashley also works full time for Family Legacy Missions and I admire her heart so much. What a sweet friend who I am truly blessed to know! They also have a blog you can check out: http://www.walkingbyfaithnotbysight.blogspot.com/.
Andrew Bradshaw - Nicaragua - It has been a blessing to see God move in this man's life! He is following God to serve at an orphanage in Nicaragua on his first mission trip as well this summer. If you feel led to support Andrew in his first mission trip, you can do so here: http://ebcgiv.convio.net/goto/andrewevans.
How's that for furthering the gospel around the world?!?! God is at work! Even if you can't physically go, please be a part of supporting missions through prayer, finances and encouraging those who are going.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
2011 Recap
Since I was so bad about posting towards the end of last year, I wanted to do a fun post recapping 2011...
January - I was so blessed to be a part of FBC Hurst's Disciple Now Weekend and spend a few days with some wonderful 7th grade girls...and Edward ;)
February - Despite having a slight quarter life crisis, I had a great time celebrating my 25th birthday Austin style!
March - Had LOADS of fun with my new Nikon D3100 camera! This is one of my fav pics I took the first month having the new camera.
April - This was a great month! But if I had to pick one highlight, it's obviously Warrior Dash!
May - I got to spend some wonderful mother/daughter time in Glenrose at a Ladies Retreat.
June - Return to AFRICA and reunited with SAM!!!
July - First of many dates with Ben after we got back from Africa <3
August - Go Rangers!
September - My first trip to Fredericksburg and my first Schinken Schnitzel at a German restaurant
October - Kim and I went to the Zoo together for the first time since the 5th grade
November - The start of our first Holiday season together...2 Thanksgivings in one day, oh yes we did!
December - Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them
Not too shabby! Thankful for all this and more that happened in 2011 and excited for the adventures waiting in 2012. <3
January - I was so blessed to be a part of FBC Hurst's Disciple Now Weekend and spend a few days with some wonderful 7th grade girls...and Edward ;)
February - Despite having a slight quarter life crisis, I had a great time celebrating my 25th birthday Austin style!
March - Had LOADS of fun with my new Nikon D3100 camera! This is one of my fav pics I took the first month having the new camera.
April - This was a great month! But if I had to pick one highlight, it's obviously Warrior Dash!
May - I got to spend some wonderful mother/daughter time in Glenrose at a Ladies Retreat.
June - Return to AFRICA and reunited with SAM!!!
July - First of many dates with Ben after we got back from Africa <3
August - Go Rangers!
September - My first trip to Fredericksburg and my first Schinken Schnitzel at a German restaurant
October - Kim and I went to the Zoo together for the first time since the 5th grade
November - The start of our first Holiday season together...2 Thanksgivings in one day, oh yes we did!
December - Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them
Not too shabby! Thankful for all this and more that happened in 2011 and excited for the adventures waiting in 2012. <3
Tragiphobia
Oh my poor neglected blog! I have wanted to be better about blogging this year and it's taken me until the end of January to actually sit down and write out a post. I do have plenty of thoughts and lessons to share! I literally have a sticky note of things I want to write about going back to the end of last summer! I'll slowly but surely get caught back up on here. For now, here is what I'm most recently learning...
Tragiphobia - Shannon's made up term for the fear of tragedy...
This past December, one of my former students from the youth Sunday School class that I taught passed away very unexpectedly and tragically. The event hit very close to home and I was shaken to the core. I felt like I had been living in a bubble where I sometimes was concerned that something could happen to a loved one, but most likely it would not. That bubble was burst. I felt naked, exposed and honestly, unprotected. My dad died very unexpectedly and tragically as well, so the pain of remembering this grief was overwhelming at times. Suddenly I didn't feel like my loved ones were safe anymore. It hurt to watch them walk out the front door and to think they might not come back. I started borrowing worry that conversations I had with them could be my last, that hugs I gave them could be final. In the weeks that followed, my cousin and her husband tragically lost their baby that we were expecting to welcome to the world this summer, friends of mine lost family members, and my Aunt Charlyne passed away in East Texas. Thoughts of how precious, but temporary, life is have been my constant companion, along with worry of losing people I consider irreplaceable in my life. I have not been living in peace. Sometimes when I blog I am able to write about trials I've been through and what I learned from them or how they were resolved. In this case, I am still very much wrestling with this trial and learning to trust God more in the process...it's not easy.
The TRUTH is that I have no fear of death because of the power of Christ in me (1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus is Lord and King in the hearts of all my closest loved ones, and as Ben sweetly reminded me the other night, if something does happen, "I know where I'm going and I get you back." The TRUTH is also that this life is not really about me. I am here only to bring glory to the great I AM, whether in life or death (Exodus 3:13-15). The problem is, I've developed attachments to things [people] in this world. The TRUTH is furthermore that I cannot allow these things [people] to become idols in my heart (Exodus 20:3). If I exalt these relationships and love them more than God, then my heart is broken and needs to re-prioritize until it seeks and loves God first...and all these things will be added unto me (Matthew 6:33). I think more than anything, I'm afraid of the pain that I've experienced, remember, and know comes with the grief of losing someone you love. I wish I could never have to experience that kind of pain again. Sadly, it is part of this life. TRUTH tells me that God will never leave my side (Deuteronomy 31:6) and that I can put my faith and trust in Him as I daily die to self and give my loved ones and desires over to His capable, loving, good, and never failing hands. I read the following scripture tonight and it prompted this post. It's not easy to be this vulnerable or to share these deep, personal emotions, but I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with the fear of losing someone and so I pray that we can encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Tragiphobia - Shannon's made up term for the fear of tragedy...
This past December, one of my former students from the youth Sunday School class that I taught passed away very unexpectedly and tragically. The event hit very close to home and I was shaken to the core. I felt like I had been living in a bubble where I sometimes was concerned that something could happen to a loved one, but most likely it would not. That bubble was burst. I felt naked, exposed and honestly, unprotected. My dad died very unexpectedly and tragically as well, so the pain of remembering this grief was overwhelming at times. Suddenly I didn't feel like my loved ones were safe anymore. It hurt to watch them walk out the front door and to think they might not come back. I started borrowing worry that conversations I had with them could be my last, that hugs I gave them could be final. In the weeks that followed, my cousin and her husband tragically lost their baby that we were expecting to welcome to the world this summer, friends of mine lost family members, and my Aunt Charlyne passed away in East Texas. Thoughts of how precious, but temporary, life is have been my constant companion, along with worry of losing people I consider irreplaceable in my life. I have not been living in peace. Sometimes when I blog I am able to write about trials I've been through and what I learned from them or how they were resolved. In this case, I am still very much wrestling with this trial and learning to trust God more in the process...it's not easy.
The TRUTH is that I have no fear of death because of the power of Christ in me (1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus is Lord and King in the hearts of all my closest loved ones, and as Ben sweetly reminded me the other night, if something does happen, "I know where I'm going and I get you back." The TRUTH is also that this life is not really about me. I am here only to bring glory to the great I AM, whether in life or death (Exodus 3:13-15). The problem is, I've developed attachments to things [people] in this world. The TRUTH is furthermore that I cannot allow these things [people] to become idols in my heart (Exodus 20:3). If I exalt these relationships and love them more than God, then my heart is broken and needs to re-prioritize until it seeks and loves God first...and all these things will be added unto me (Matthew 6:33). I think more than anything, I'm afraid of the pain that I've experienced, remember, and know comes with the grief of losing someone you love. I wish I could never have to experience that kind of pain again. Sadly, it is part of this life. TRUTH tells me that God will never leave my side (Deuteronomy 31:6) and that I can put my faith and trust in Him as I daily die to self and give my loved ones and desires over to His capable, loving, good, and never failing hands. I read the following scripture tonight and it prompted this post. It's not easy to be this vulnerable or to share these deep, personal emotions, but I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with the fear of losing someone and so I pray that we can encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows...Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.
~Matthew 10:29-31, 37-39
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me
*If you're reading this post before you've read the previous post, stop and go back before reading this one so you can fully appreciate God's great work. :)
4 days before I prayed out in faith that God would provide for me someone to share my life with, I met Benjamin Gibson in Zambia, Africa half way around the world. 4 days after I spoke out my faith in God to provide as He saw was best, Ben walked me to my villa our last night in Zambia and asked me to have dinner with him when we returned to the States. Neither of us ever in our wildest dreams expected to meet someone while on our mission trip (let alone someone who just lived 45 minutes away!). I was there to focus on sharing God's love with my boys and the orphans in Zambia, while Ben was there to focus on his photography as he took pictures of the orphans and community for the organization that we traveled with. What a humbling blessing it has been to grow with Ben in our walks with God the past few months and to know that our being together is so much bigger than just us. Our lives are committed to bringing glory to God and we feel that He is accomplishing that by joining our lives together. My hope is that by sharing God's faithfulness in this relationship that it will encourage others and bring glory to our God as I share His extreme faithfulness in my life, even when I was lacking in faith.
Ben and I have been seeking a church home in Dallas where we can begin to grow & serve together. While sitting in service yesterday, we sang a chorus that boasted of God being our strong tower and defender. God sweetly reminded me that even though life is rapidly changing at the moment, He is still my Best Friend. He is still my familiar stronghold, the One that's known and loved me all my life (despite myself), and that He always has and will always be my King, First Love, Best Friend, Provider, Protector, Comforter and Defender. It brings joy to my heart to think of all my God and I have been through together, all we will go through and to know that He is my faithful, never-changing Constant in a world so full of changes. To God be the glory, GREAT things He has done.
"This God— His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." ~Psalm 18:30
4 days before I prayed out in faith that God would provide for me someone to share my life with, I met Benjamin Gibson in Zambia, Africa half way around the world. 4 days after I spoke out my faith in God to provide as He saw was best, Ben walked me to my villa our last night in Zambia and asked me to have dinner with him when we returned to the States. Neither of us ever in our wildest dreams expected to meet someone while on our mission trip (let alone someone who just lived 45 minutes away!). I was there to focus on sharing God's love with my boys and the orphans in Zambia, while Ben was there to focus on his photography as he took pictures of the orphans and community for the organization that we traveled with. What a humbling blessing it has been to grow with Ben in our walks with God the past few months and to know that our being together is so much bigger than just us. Our lives are committed to bringing glory to God and we feel that He is accomplishing that by joining our lives together. My hope is that by sharing God's faithfulness in this relationship that it will encourage others and bring glory to our God as I share His extreme faithfulness in my life, even when I was lacking in faith.
Ben and I have been seeking a church home in Dallas where we can begin to grow & serve together. While sitting in service yesterday, we sang a chorus that boasted of God being our strong tower and defender. God sweetly reminded me that even though life is rapidly changing at the moment, He is still my Best Friend. He is still my familiar stronghold, the One that's known and loved me all my life (despite myself), and that He always has and will always be my King, First Love, Best Friend, Provider, Protector, Comforter and Defender. It brings joy to my heart to think of all my God and I have been through together, all we will go through and to know that He is my faithful, never-changing Constant in a world so full of changes. To God be the glory, GREAT things He has done.
"This God— His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." ~Psalm 18:30
Speaking Out in Faith
In the months leading up to traveling to Zambia, Satan had found a way to keep me depressed and in doubt of God's work in my life. Slowly but surely, what started out as a little discouragement at being single and unhappy with several situations in life grew into full on doubt that God was not going to provide a husband in my life.
I journaled on June 18, 3 days before I would leave for Zambia, that I was so depressed I didn't even want to go anymore. And that's when something snapped inside of me for the good - NOT want to go to Zambia and proclaim my Father's joy to the orphans? That wasn't ME talking, that was the enemy and I knew it all too well. That night, I repented of my lack of faith, my pride and self-pity and gave over all my desires to my Father. I asked him to strip away anything fleshly and selfish within me and allow me to join Him in what He was doing. I prayed that God would rid me of distractions and that I would not worry about being accepted by anyone but God Himself. I gave over my singleness to God and committed to be faithful to Him even if a life of singleness was what He had planned for me. I resolved myself to singleness that night and to a life married to my First Love and bringing glory to Him, and it was well with my soul.
The first day at camp, we were to teach the kids 3 things they needed to practice during the week to fight off Satan's lies as they learned truth.
1. Listen to the Word
2. Believe what the Word says
3. Speak out what you believe in faith
I was happy to teach my kids these 3 important tools for the spiritual battle they would face when the Holy Spirit pressed on me... Speak out YOUR faith. It was the first day of camp that as my boys were speaking out their faith in God that I finally spoke out loud my faith: God, you will provide a husband & children to share this life with. You will not only provide a husband, but a teammate that will bring You more glory by sharing his life with me than we ever could individually on our own. God restored my faith, healed my heart and set me FREE... and did not let my prayers or statement of faith in Him go unanswered.... :)
"If we are faithless,He remains faithful— for He cannot deny himself." ~2 Timothy 2:13
I journaled on June 18, 3 days before I would leave for Zambia, that I was so depressed I didn't even want to go anymore. And that's when something snapped inside of me for the good - NOT want to go to Zambia and proclaim my Father's joy to the orphans? That wasn't ME talking, that was the enemy and I knew it all too well. That night, I repented of my lack of faith, my pride and self-pity and gave over all my desires to my Father. I asked him to strip away anything fleshly and selfish within me and allow me to join Him in what He was doing. I prayed that God would rid me of distractions and that I would not worry about being accepted by anyone but God Himself. I gave over my singleness to God and committed to be faithful to Him even if a life of singleness was what He had planned for me. I resolved myself to singleness that night and to a life married to my First Love and bringing glory to Him, and it was well with my soul.
The first day at camp, we were to teach the kids 3 things they needed to practice during the week to fight off Satan's lies as they learned truth.
1. Listen to the Word
2. Believe what the Word says
3. Speak out what you believe in faith
I was happy to teach my kids these 3 important tools for the spiritual battle they would face when the Holy Spirit pressed on me... Speak out YOUR faith. It was the first day of camp that as my boys were speaking out their faith in God that I finally spoke out loud my faith: God, you will provide a husband & children to share this life with. You will not only provide a husband, but a teammate that will bring You more glory by sharing his life with me than we ever could individually on our own. God restored my faith, healed my heart and set me FREE... and did not let my prayers or statement of faith in Him go unanswered.... :)
"If we are faithless,He remains faithful— for He cannot deny himself." ~2 Timothy 2:13
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)