To: The Follower's of Jesus Girl, With Love

I can't tell you how inspiring it is to come to the site and see more and more people following the blog, or to do a show and have friends come up to me after and tell me how much this blog is blessing their lives. It makes me feel humbled. Here's why...

When I first came up with the idea for Jesus Girl, it seemed so immense. It was one of those dreams like wanting to put on a concert at Carnegie Hall. Yeah it sounds great, but is anybody gonna show up? And you did. You are, and I need you to know how much your support means. Sometimes we do a small thing forget all about it, and then realize later that it was the one stone that completed the whole house. Each of you is a stone in the house that is Jesus Girl, and I am so grateful to each of you for believing in my vision with me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Waiting for Superman

I just saw "Waiting for Superman" tonight. A documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim. AMAZING! Every teacher, parent, principal, student, and concerned citizen needs to see this film. I saw so much of my own experience with public schools revealed, and watched as the myths about education in suburbia and inner city schools were challenged. I left inspired and ready to make a change, no matter how small. The film forces you to look at the future of this country if we continue to rob our children of what they deserve, simply because it makes us as taxpayers, teachers, and adults feel comfortable.

The movie opens in Atlanta on October 8th and I will not only be attending, I plan to bring as many people with me as I can. I encourage you to do the same. Visit the link below and find out when it opens in your area. Please support this film, because even if you don't agree with everything that is said, it is the beginning of a conversation that we must have: why doesn't our system work, and how do we make it work?

Take a moment to visit the link and watch the trailer.

http://film.waitingforsuperman.com

See you at the theater...

Mark the Moment

Mark my words and remember the moment. That felt like what my teacher and friend Dawn Axam was saying to me tonight. She had just seen me perform for the first time in several months, and she wanted to make sure that I understood the significance of my growth. First off, I would like to encourage everyone reading this to keep good honest friends in your life for as long as you can. They will help keep you on track, and warn you when you are getting off track. They are the best kind of friend and the most essential part of a life of greatness. At any rate, our conversation felt like such an important moment, that I knew I wanted to remember the weight and scent of it, so I am writing this...reminder.

I think we forget to do that. We have friends and family around us insisting that "it's not that deep." But what if it is? What if we miss key moments in our lives all the time because we allow them to breeze past us without ever giving them any real thought.

With that said, I intend to embrace my inner Abraham and believe God's promise, by way of Ms. Axam's prophecy, and I am treating this entry as a milestone to the moment when I received God's greatness for my life. PLEASE feel free to use it as yours, and mark the moment.

Trip Lee "Invasion"

So, this link was just emailed to me. I opened it unassumingly, and instantly became a Trip Lee fan. Not just because the music is good, but because it has a good and divine purpose.
I believe that when we find people or organizations that are representing the name of Christ with eloquence and professionalism it is imperative that we support and uplift them so that the standard for greatness will continually be raised. We want to be iron sharpening iron. With that said, this video, "Invasion" is my favorite kind of entertainment, the kind that is fun enough to catch the ear and eye, and poignant enough to catch the heart. I LIKE! Hope you do to. Watch, vote, share.

Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7piEIaJvIo

Vote:
http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm">http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm

Remembering 6

I had forgotten. How to hope, or how to hope in a God so big that nothing is impossible. I forgot to be six. I was so busy growing up that I forgot the most essential part of growing up is to not grow bitter. But I just caught a glimpse, of what it was like to sit in one place and loose track of the time, and even forget where I am because I was dreaming so hard. I missed that, and I think I realize that all it takes to go back there is surrender. Ah, surrender, every American adults favorite word.
Let's face it everything in our adult life is about control. That's all planning really is, an attempt at control, and I'm not saying that I think that its a bad thing. I know that it is important to plan, but there has to be balance. Not knowing doesn't have to be as scary as we make it. It's kind of the best part, especially if you assume that every change, every detour, every setback is ultimately a good thing. That they are all arrows pointing you to something greater.
So I've decided to embrace my inner six year old again and allow myself to embrace an impossible vision. One that God will get all the glory from because people will see it and know that there is no way that it could have happened without Him.

The Karate Kid

I know, I'm late. But I just saw the movie last week and it was great! What I saw while I was watching, (besides some excellent training and beautiful moments), was a lesson about teaching. Good teachers teach their students not only the subject, but how to learn. Unwise teachers however simply teach their students how to emulate, creating drones instead of students. Like the villain of the movie who attempts to teach his students how to cause fear in one's opponent, but if we have learned anything from movies about the underdog who rises to the top it is that a lesson of respect will always trump a lesson of fear. ALWAYS!

The other thing that I have learned about good teachers is, they usually learn as much from their students as they teach. I believe it has something to do with a method of openness. A good teacher is a lover of education, whether giving or receiving, they understand that knowledge is both powerful and sacred and they honor that.

I salute all of the wonderful teachers past, present, and future. This world's greatest achievements are yours first, for you shaped the minds that brought them forth. We are grateful and I pray that God blesses us with many more like you.

Love is Waiting

Brooke Fraser's album Albertine is on repeat in my car and on my computer right now. In addition to being a tremendous musical talent (seriously its so awesome you'll weep tears of joy), she also happens to be a fellow lover of Christ. The album is a wonderful mix of praise, worship, and reflection. She's the perfect soundtrack to my current journey.

There is one song in particular that seems to echo several conversations that I have had recently with some fellow Jesus girls and boys. The song is called "Love is Waiting," and it is a gorgeous song that answers the hearts of those who are waiting for true love.

In a world where there is so much going on to distract you from faith and commitment, the question seems to be not only is he/she out there, but also if they are, could they find me in the midst of all this confusion? "Love is Waiting" is an angelic reminder that God knows exactly what He is doing. He is ever present and orchestrating the "best possible results for the most people, for the longest time,"(from "God as He Longs for You to See Him" by Chip Ingram). It's important to remember that every area of our lives is meant to bring Him glory, including who/how we love, so it has to be in His time, and done His way.

"...give it time, give it space and be still for a spell. When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well..."


So thank you Brooke for the psalm of patience! I hope you all enjoy.

Happy Listening,
Ina