I'm back in Spokane for the summer. I moved back the day after graduation, and have been home for almost three weeks. This week was my first full week back in town though. I went to Cabo last weekend with my family. It was by far the most lazy and relaxing vacation I've ever had...lots of sleeping, sunbathing and a little reading here and there.
So being back home...this week I discovered that this summer is going to be pretty challenging for me. It's not like the other breaks where I came home for a couple of weeks and went right back to Redding. Being away for the next three months will make it a little harder than before. I think I realized just how easy it is to depend on the Bethel culture. Thank God I realized this within the first week of being home!! It's definitely hard to be away from the church, the speakers, the worship and from the friends I made over the year. It's an incredible place to be and I was beyond blessed this year. I already miss my small group girls, our Friday morning breakfasts, our snuggle-fests on Charlotte's couches, and the hours we spent laughing, crying and praying for one another. Being in the "Bethel Bubble" is soo good, but at the same time it can be dangerous if that's all we do, stay in the Bethel Bubble. When we find that we are too dependent on the church and it's leaders instead of being dependent on Jesus we put ourselves in a compromising position. It's being dependent on the King that keeps our hearts in the right place.
This summer is going to be difficult and great at the same time. I know the growth that will come from it is going to be incredible and make me that much stronger in the Lord. I can already see that happening and I am looking forward to see how God will move here in Spokane and more importantly through me while I am here.
This morning I went back to Timberview, I haven't been there since Christmas and then I think I only went once. I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest, and while I didn't stay for the whole service (I had to work) it was nice to be back. I looked around the congregation and saw family. The people I saw were the ones who helped me to get to where I am. I am eternally grateful for each of those people. It really did feel good to be back. God is doing incredible things there and the Holy Spirit is really moving. This morning a few of us gathered for prayer before the service, to pray for the church and for the body and then between services we were going to pray for whoever needed prayer/ healing. This is something so new to Timberview and really exciting for us to see and be a part of. One person came into the prayer room and it was amazing! I am so excited to see how the Lord uses this ministry time. Timberview is my home church, it's where my relationship with Jesus began. It's good be home, I'm glad to be back at Timberview, and I am excited to see how this summer unfolds.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Memory Lane
So last week I took a little stroll down memory lane. It got me thinking a lot about where I am and how I got here. I am still in shock sometimes that I am actually living in here in Redding. Even the other day, keep in mind this is April, I was leaving the apartment complex thinking I really live here. It's not just some weekend conference, I actually live here. I even get mail here. (For some reason that always makes it seem more real to me). It's funny because at the beginning of the school year Justine and I would leave school and say to one another, thank God we get to come back on Tuesday! It's really real!
Wednesday morning a friend and I took Justine down to the Sacramento Airport. As we were driving back to Redding we were talking about life and how we got to where we are. We talked about high school, college and the crazy times that are included in those years. As we were talking it hit me that all along God had a plan for my life. He knew I would make mistakes and do some stupid stuff, and walk a different path for a while. But ultimately He knew I'd return to Him. He knew within a just a few years I'd be here in Redding. And all along the way He protected me. He's so good. I won't lie, my heart was totally broken at one point. But I am thankful that He put the pieces back together one at a time to make me whole. And He's still protecting me. I have great memories with great people, I am thankful for each and everything I learned in that chapter of my life (let me tell you I learned a lot!), and the people who were right there with me. But I am even more thankful that I was being looked after each step of the way. Sometimes I wonder thought what it would be like if I took the other path... As I think about it I get overwhelmed; kids??, husband??, and Red Robin swirl through my brain. I take a deep breath and simply begin thanking God for the countless ways He protected me and for where I am now. (Even though I still work at Red Robin). I am looking forward to the day when the husband and the kids come along (a day when I will no longer work at Red Robin!) don't get me wrong, but I am so glad that's not where I am right now. I look at people my age who are married and have kids, or just have kids and I think man, I can't even imagine being married right now, let alone have kids. Maybe it's just because I haven't met Mr. Right, but whatever the reason, I thank God I am not there yet! I don't mind the wait and to be honest, I am enjoying this adventure.
This adventure is and has been absolutely amazing. I wish everyone could experience this and what it's like. I couldn't have picked a better way to spend this year and wouldn't trade it for anything. Moving here and coming to school is definitely in the top 3 of my "Best Decisions I've Ever Made" list. It's been the best and hardest year of my life, so stretching and challenging and yet unbelievable and so fun. Many tears have been sown into this year and even more laughs. My brain is on overdrive, as I begin to process the things I have been taught and live with a Kingdom mindset, I begin to learn a little more about who I really am.
Wednesday morning a friend and I took Justine down to the Sacramento Airport. As we were driving back to Redding we were talking about life and how we got to where we are. We talked about high school, college and the crazy times that are included in those years. As we were talking it hit me that all along God had a plan for my life. He knew I would make mistakes and do some stupid stuff, and walk a different path for a while. But ultimately He knew I'd return to Him. He knew within a just a few years I'd be here in Redding. And all along the way He protected me. He's so good. I won't lie, my heart was totally broken at one point. But I am thankful that He put the pieces back together one at a time to make me whole. And He's still protecting me. I have great memories with great people, I am thankful for each and everything I learned in that chapter of my life (let me tell you I learned a lot!), and the people who were right there with me. But I am even more thankful that I was being looked after each step of the way. Sometimes I wonder thought what it would be like if I took the other path... As I think about it I get overwhelmed; kids??, husband??, and Red Robin swirl through my brain. I take a deep breath and simply begin thanking God for the countless ways He protected me and for where I am now. (Even though I still work at Red Robin). I am looking forward to the day when the husband and the kids come along (a day when I will no longer work at Red Robin!) don't get me wrong, but I am so glad that's not where I am right now. I look at people my age who are married and have kids, or just have kids and I think man, I can't even imagine being married right now, let alone have kids. Maybe it's just because I haven't met Mr. Right, but whatever the reason, I thank God I am not there yet! I don't mind the wait and to be honest, I am enjoying this adventure.
This adventure is and has been absolutely amazing. I wish everyone could experience this and what it's like. I couldn't have picked a better way to spend this year and wouldn't trade it for anything. Moving here and coming to school is definitely in the top 3 of my "Best Decisions I've Ever Made" list. It's been the best and hardest year of my life, so stretching and challenging and yet unbelievable and so fun. Many tears have been sown into this year and even more laughs. My brain is on overdrive, as I begin to process the things I have been taught and live with a Kingdom mindset, I begin to learn a little more about who I really am.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
So, for the moment life is still. Easter break started for us today, we have a week off and it's much needed. I have been thinking about writing for awhile, just never actually got around to it. A lot has happened between the last time I wrote and now, but don't worry I won't go into all the detail. I will share a few high lights though...
I decided one rainy afternoon in March that I was going to start painting, something I have never done before, but thought it could be a lot of fun. So, I went to Michael's bought the stuff and started to paint. It's been quite the adventure, and honestly I am surprised at how most of them have turned out. It's also a work in progress, but hopefully it's like most things in life where the more you do it the better you become.
Another little nugget, I recently went to Tecate, Mexico. As students here we all signed up for a missions trip before Christmas. Tecate was in my top 5 and I was picked to be on that team. There were 30 of us all together that drove from Redding down, across the border and to the ranch. It's about the same distance between here and Spokane...but a long drive nonetheless. This was my first "real" missions trip; full, service projects, sweat, dirt, cute kids, amazing ministry school students, dirt, very little running water and did I mention dirt? Tecate is basically right next to Tijuana, for those who weren't aware so it's a pretty impoverished area. It was stretching for me to not be in a place where running water is at my fingertips and I will never take a flushing toilet for granted! It was great fun though- I have to admit, challenging, stretching, and a little smelly, but great fun. The Ranch we stayed at has a church, a ministry school, (similar to the one I am at), an orphanage, a school (for the orphans and for 100+ students from the area who they bus to the school so the kids can 1) get an education and 2) be safe while parents are at work), a hospice, and so much more. It was amazing how many different things were going on at this place. Our team helped with some buildings, getting them ready to pour concrete and cleaning up some other ones, we also did a Vacation Bible School with the kids, activated the ministry school students in the prophetic, did some outreach, and led various church services in the community. I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was working with the ministry school , especially the day we did outreach with them. We went to Tijuana, broke into small groups and hit the area ready to see some action. I was with a 2nd year student and three of the Mexican ministry school students. The second house we went to was the best by far- the team had been going to this house for 2 months trying to minister to the family that lived there and each Saturday they were turned away. The granddaughter would be outside, greet the team and tell them that her grandparents didn't weren't interested in talking with them. So each week they would pray for opportunities to talk with this family and get shut down week after week. Well the Saturday we were there they decided to let us in. As we went into the house we went into the bedroom where this old old OLD man was. He was laying on the bed and in a ton of pain. He hadn't been able to walk in a few days and was experiencing major stomach and leg pain. I'm not sure if he had moved at all in that time. We later learned that he could eat but couldn't go to the bathroom (which explains the stomach pain). I went in and immediately began to pray for the man's legs. When I asked him how they were he said peaceful and that the pain had significantly deceased. Shortly after one of the girls started evangelizing and asked the man if he wanted to know Jesus, he said "sure why not" and as soon as he did you could see life in his face. As the girls were praying with the man, the guy on the team pulled me into the kitchen with the old man's wife. She began to tell us that the man actually had stomach cancer (hence the pain and not being able to go to the bathroom). The kicker, he didn't know he had cancer. She didn't want him to know and wasn't about to let us spill the beans. She wanted us to pray for him, but saying words like cancer and tumor were off limits. So we went for it. As we prayed we just declared life and health into him and released the Kingdom, Bethel style! Again we asked him how the pain was and he said the same thing, peaceful and tranquil. We started to talk with his daughter and wife and prayed for them a little and we asked them if they'd also like to know Jesus, their answers, "sure why not." It was amazing!! We spent a little more time praying for the ladies, and then realized it was time to go back to the church to meet the rest of the team. As we were saying goodbye I looked behind me and saw the old man had gone from slouching on the bed to sitting on the edge of the bed about to push himself up and walk out of the room. I was in awe! The man who hadn't moved in days had just positioned himself on the edge of the bed and looked like he was about to walk out of the room. WOW! This was just one of the many amazing things that happened in Tecate, like I said it was stretching, but great fun and truly a memorable experience!!
As for now, we have 4 weeks of school left. I will be home in about 5. I can't believe this year is already almost over. It's been a great journey and I am not sure I am ready for it to end...
I decided one rainy afternoon in March that I was going to start painting, something I have never done before, but thought it could be a lot of fun. So, I went to Michael's bought the stuff and started to paint. It's been quite the adventure, and honestly I am surprised at how most of them have turned out. It's also a work in progress, but hopefully it's like most things in life where the more you do it the better you become.
Another little nugget, I recently went to Tecate, Mexico. As students here we all signed up for a missions trip before Christmas. Tecate was in my top 5 and I was picked to be on that team. There were 30 of us all together that drove from Redding down, across the border and to the ranch. It's about the same distance between here and Spokane...but a long drive nonetheless. This was my first "real" missions trip; full, service projects, sweat, dirt, cute kids, amazing ministry school students, dirt, very little running water and did I mention dirt? Tecate is basically right next to Tijuana, for those who weren't aware so it's a pretty impoverished area. It was stretching for me to not be in a place where running water is at my fingertips and I will never take a flushing toilet for granted! It was great fun though- I have to admit, challenging, stretching, and a little smelly, but great fun. The Ranch we stayed at has a church, a ministry school, (similar to the one I am at), an orphanage, a school (for the orphans and for 100+ students from the area who they bus to the school so the kids can 1) get an education and 2) be safe while parents are at work), a hospice, and so much more. It was amazing how many different things were going on at this place. Our team helped with some buildings, getting them ready to pour concrete and cleaning up some other ones, we also did a Vacation Bible School with the kids, activated the ministry school students in the prophetic, did some outreach, and led various church services in the community. I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was working with the ministry school , especially the day we did outreach with them. We went to Tijuana, broke into small groups and hit the area ready to see some action. I was with a 2nd year student and three of the Mexican ministry school students. The second house we went to was the best by far- the team had been going to this house for 2 months trying to minister to the family that lived there and each Saturday they were turned away. The granddaughter would be outside, greet the team and tell them that her grandparents didn't weren't interested in talking with them. So each week they would pray for opportunities to talk with this family and get shut down week after week. Well the Saturday we were there they decided to let us in. As we went into the house we went into the bedroom where this old old OLD man was. He was laying on the bed and in a ton of pain. He hadn't been able to walk in a few days and was experiencing major stomach and leg pain. I'm not sure if he had moved at all in that time. We later learned that he could eat but couldn't go to the bathroom (which explains the stomach pain). I went in and immediately began to pray for the man's legs. When I asked him how they were he said peaceful and that the pain had significantly deceased. Shortly after one of the girls started evangelizing and asked the man if he wanted to know Jesus, he said "sure why not" and as soon as he did you could see life in his face. As the girls were praying with the man, the guy on the team pulled me into the kitchen with the old man's wife. She began to tell us that the man actually had stomach cancer (hence the pain and not being able to go to the bathroom). The kicker, he didn't know he had cancer. She didn't want him to know and wasn't about to let us spill the beans. She wanted us to pray for him, but saying words like cancer and tumor were off limits. So we went for it. As we prayed we just declared life and health into him and released the Kingdom, Bethel style! Again we asked him how the pain was and he said the same thing, peaceful and tranquil. We started to talk with his daughter and wife and prayed for them a little and we asked them if they'd also like to know Jesus, their answers, "sure why not." It was amazing!! We spent a little more time praying for the ladies, and then realized it was time to go back to the church to meet the rest of the team. As we were saying goodbye I looked behind me and saw the old man had gone from slouching on the bed to sitting on the edge of the bed about to push himself up and walk out of the room. I was in awe! The man who hadn't moved in days had just positioned himself on the edge of the bed and looked like he was about to walk out of the room. WOW! This was just one of the many amazing things that happened in Tecate, like I said it was stretching, but great fun and truly a memorable experience!!
As for now, we have 4 weeks of school left. I will be home in about 5. I can't believe this year is already almost over. It's been a great journey and I am not sure I am ready for it to end...
Monday, December 8, 2008
I decided to start a blog. I am not sure how often I will update it- probably as often as the Lord prompts me to do so, but I will certainly try to give you some insight into what's going on here in Redding.
This year has been interesting and it’s not quite over. I won’t spend much time here, but I feel as if a recap of what has happened this year is necessary to understand the full picture of these last few weeks. I’ll keep this short. I took my last quarter of classes last fall and started my student teaching in January. I taught 1st and 2nd year Spanish and I loved it!! I had incredible students, great master teachers and plenty of support from friends, family and EWU professors. Time flew by and soon enough the whole thing was over. The timing was perfect and allowed for many incredible travel opportunities. One of those trips being to Bogota, Colombia. Next thing I knew it was June and I was walking across the stage shaking some man’s hand with my "diploma holder" in the other. Summer also came and passed and I was able to make it down to Bogota once again. I totally fell in love with the country, with the people, and with the little girls I had been working with. I thought for sure I would be back, potentially long term…There was only one thing standing in the middle of me packing up and moving down there on the spot- I had been accepted to the Bethel School of Ministry and had planned on spending the year in California (but felt very strong in returning to Colombia shortly after). September came along; I packed up and drove 12 hours down to Redding.
So it's now December and I am sorry it's taken so long to start something like this. However, this is also the first time I've had something to share. So here goes...it may be a little long...I've got a lot to say!
Thanksgiving break wasn’t the easiest week for me, not in the way you are thinking though. I loved being home spending time with family, friends and even picking up a few shifts at Red Robin (I truly never thought I would miss it, but boy was I wrong!!) It wasn't that difficult being away from Bethel, the school, or anything like that. So you ask, what made it so hard? It was a week of growth, stretching, shaking, etc. One thing that I have found being here is how easy it is to begin to identify oneself with the rest of the crowd of Bethelites. Many of the students who are here will become Senior Pastors, Youth Pastors, Children's Pastors, missionaries, and take on other full time Church staff positions. For a short while I saw myself in this same boat. I wanted to be a missionary, I already had the place, it was just a matter of time before I got there. While at home, I realized that I was beginning to identify myself with my classmates, started to look at their goals instead of my own and started to just “go with the flow.” It seemed like a good plan… But it wasn't God's plan for me. So He began to work in my heart, reminding me of my call to be an educator and the plans He has for me. In reminding me of this call He showed me what I needed to lay down and surrender to Him- the first being Bogota. I wasn’t so happy about that one. I truly thought I would be living in Bogota by about this time next year. However, God always has an incredible plan and He started to show me how this all could work out. Being a teacher, everyone knows you get a significant of time off during the summers and He told me that could be my “missionary” time. I could go down and spend some time in the summers to help with the girls and still have a part in their lives. I know that I will be going back to Bogota. The church and the girls in the orphanage down there will always have a place in my heart. I just know that I have been called to be a Spanish teacher; my classroom will be my mission field. It’s exciting to know that I will have an opportunity to transform the lives of my future high school students, simply by loving and honoring them as people! Through this the Lord showed me that I don’t have to be just like everyone else in my class, we are all called to different areas of ministry and not all of them will look alike.
Along with that He also began to work on my character showing me who I am in Christ. So far this year has been about identity and learning who we are in Christ. Learning to see, understand, believe and live like sons and daughters of the Most High King. I’m still trying to figure out exactly how to put this part in to words, all I know is that there is always room to grow, and if it’s not of God I don’t want it in my life. He’ll continue to work on these character issues and each time it will hurt less. It’s like being hung upside down and shaken so that all the junk falls out- it doesn’t feel so good at the time, but when the junk is gone, everything feels much better. It definitely didn’t feel so nice at the time, but now that I can identify what it was He was doing I feel much better!
A few weeks ago one of the Pastors spoke on the topic of becoming great. He said that we (students) have all asked God to make us great, He is answering that cry, and that is why we are all at this school. Jason used the scripture in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I am here because I asked God to make me great. At church last night Kris Vallotton said between the promise and the palace is the process. God promised to make me great as soon as I asked Him to. I know we’re on our way to the palace where I will be eternally great, however, it’s in the process where I achieve that greatness. So I’ll keep on this path, choosing to attack whatever comes my way head on. If I go straight for these trials and problems that arise in life, and work my way through them (not try to get out of them sooner than God wants me to) I will come out of these stormy seasons greater than when I went in. Like I said, I want to be great. I want to make a difference in this world, and I won’t settle for anything less than greatness! Jason ended his talk by saying we don’t get to choose the situations we’ll face, we just get to decide the outcome of those situations. The outcome is the only thing we have control over.
So that's what I've got for now. I am sorry it is so long, but like I said I actually have something to share.
This year has been interesting and it’s not quite over. I won’t spend much time here, but I feel as if a recap of what has happened this year is necessary to understand the full picture of these last few weeks. I’ll keep this short. I took my last quarter of classes last fall and started my student teaching in January. I taught 1st and 2nd year Spanish and I loved it!! I had incredible students, great master teachers and plenty of support from friends, family and EWU professors. Time flew by and soon enough the whole thing was over. The timing was perfect and allowed for many incredible travel opportunities. One of those trips being to Bogota, Colombia. Next thing I knew it was June and I was walking across the stage shaking some man’s hand with my "diploma holder" in the other. Summer also came and passed and I was able to make it down to Bogota once again. I totally fell in love with the country, with the people, and with the little girls I had been working with. I thought for sure I would be back, potentially long term…There was only one thing standing in the middle of me packing up and moving down there on the spot- I had been accepted to the Bethel School of Ministry and had planned on spending the year in California (but felt very strong in returning to Colombia shortly after). September came along; I packed up and drove 12 hours down to Redding.
So it's now December and I am sorry it's taken so long to start something like this. However, this is also the first time I've had something to share. So here goes...it may be a little long...I've got a lot to say!
Thanksgiving break wasn’t the easiest week for me, not in the way you are thinking though. I loved being home spending time with family, friends and even picking up a few shifts at Red Robin (I truly never thought I would miss it, but boy was I wrong!!) It wasn't that difficult being away from Bethel, the school, or anything like that. So you ask, what made it so hard? It was a week of growth, stretching, shaking, etc. One thing that I have found being here is how easy it is to begin to identify oneself with the rest of the crowd of Bethelites. Many of the students who are here will become Senior Pastors, Youth Pastors, Children's Pastors, missionaries, and take on other full time Church staff positions. For a short while I saw myself in this same boat. I wanted to be a missionary, I already had the place, it was just a matter of time before I got there. While at home, I realized that I was beginning to identify myself with my classmates, started to look at their goals instead of my own and started to just “go with the flow.” It seemed like a good plan… But it wasn't God's plan for me. So He began to work in my heart, reminding me of my call to be an educator and the plans He has for me. In reminding me of this call He showed me what I needed to lay down and surrender to Him- the first being Bogota. I wasn’t so happy about that one. I truly thought I would be living in Bogota by about this time next year. However, God always has an incredible plan and He started to show me how this all could work out. Being a teacher, everyone knows you get a significant of time off during the summers and He told me that could be my “missionary” time. I could go down and spend some time in the summers to help with the girls and still have a part in their lives. I know that I will be going back to Bogota. The church and the girls in the orphanage down there will always have a place in my heart. I just know that I have been called to be a Spanish teacher; my classroom will be my mission field. It’s exciting to know that I will have an opportunity to transform the lives of my future high school students, simply by loving and honoring them as people! Through this the Lord showed me that I don’t have to be just like everyone else in my class, we are all called to different areas of ministry and not all of them will look alike.
Along with that He also began to work on my character showing me who I am in Christ. So far this year has been about identity and learning who we are in Christ. Learning to see, understand, believe and live like sons and daughters of the Most High King. I’m still trying to figure out exactly how to put this part in to words, all I know is that there is always room to grow, and if it’s not of God I don’t want it in my life. He’ll continue to work on these character issues and each time it will hurt less. It’s like being hung upside down and shaken so that all the junk falls out- it doesn’t feel so good at the time, but when the junk is gone, everything feels much better. It definitely didn’t feel so nice at the time, but now that I can identify what it was He was doing I feel much better!
A few weeks ago one of the Pastors spoke on the topic of becoming great. He said that we (students) have all asked God to make us great, He is answering that cry, and that is why we are all at this school. Jason used the scripture in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I am here because I asked God to make me great. At church last night Kris Vallotton said between the promise and the palace is the process. God promised to make me great as soon as I asked Him to. I know we’re on our way to the palace where I will be eternally great, however, it’s in the process where I achieve that greatness. So I’ll keep on this path, choosing to attack whatever comes my way head on. If I go straight for these trials and problems that arise in life, and work my way through them (not try to get out of them sooner than God wants me to) I will come out of these stormy seasons greater than when I went in. Like I said, I want to be great. I want to make a difference in this world, and I won’t settle for anything less than greatness! Jason ended his talk by saying we don’t get to choose the situations we’ll face, we just get to decide the outcome of those situations. The outcome is the only thing we have control over.
So that's what I've got for now. I am sorry it is so long, but like I said I actually have something to share.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
