You help a friend move and you dig through their Goodwill pile like it's Christmas.
All the items on your wish list are things you need and not actually want.
You are forced to participate in "No Shave November" because you can't afford razor refills.
You don't have gas money to get to the food pantry.
You have to use shampoo to wash your laundry.
You use duct tape to fix a problem in your car.
You know you're rich when:
You are surrounded by people who you love and love you back.
There are people that care about how you are REALLY doing.
You have Brothers and Sisters that have your back in a tough time.
God's joy runs through you despite rough circumstances.
You are a child of the King of Kings.
You are able to have fun anytime, anywhere.
These things are all straight from my life. It's all about perspective though. Do I choose to focus on the things that make me "poor" or those bullets that describe the great "wealth" that I have been given. I prefer to focus on what really matters. Though I may be poor by the standards of this world; I am very rich in spiritul blessings and the things that the Lord looks at.
Too often kids are confused by all the information that is thrown at them. Sometimes that information is good… other times, not so much. It is vital that, as adults and followers of Christ, we have the answers to questions that they ask. Many times, though, adults don’t even know the answers or where to look for them. I see this problem a lot and thought that I would address it for my Action Research Project in my M.Ed. program.
My literature review is going, but far from a final draft at this point. The research question that I came up with for this paper is: How does students’ K-12 experiences in public education affect their attitudes and beliefs on creation and what they are taught in church? There is a lot of information and I am working on how to put it all into my paper. Somehow what to cut out is the hardest thing to figure out. But the 15 pages will be together before too long.
For those that don’t know, I get to do my project for my church and even implement it in one of the Sunday School classrooms. The lessons encourage the kids to think about the truth of God’s word and to take what it says very seriously. From the surveys that I received back from both adults and students I can tell that others also believe that there is a need for such a curriculum. Many people said that it’s important how the universe began, that kids are often confused by what they are taught in school versus church, and that the church could do a better job preparing the youth.
I am praying that God will use me and this curriculum to influence the kids in an awesome way. This is really more than just a grade, but it is my desire to instill in the students a love for the Word and discovering the truth and treasures that it holds.
Last weekend I went to an awesome concert with Sonsofday. :) It was actually a youth event in Creswell, though, and they also had Jordan Kent there to speak. I had never heard him before, and what he had to say to the kids was pretty cool. The best part is that while he was talking about a passage God gave me a vision that helped me to understand better a rather interesting concept: predestination. The verses he spoke about are:
Ephesians 1:11-14 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.
There is a lot that can be (and has been) said about predestination, but I really love how God revealed it to me. The way I saw it might have been because Jordan was comparing faith to football, but this is the vision God gave me. It's like He's a team captain and He chooses each and every one of us to be on His team. He's so happy as He points to each of us as His pick! We, in turn, have the choice to join His team or reject the offer. We can gladly join, run in for a high-five, and prepare for victory; or we can choose to play for the opposing team being full of unhealthy competition and negative things. There is so much that comes from this analogy that the Lord gave me. He blessed me with this great way to look at things.
So please, accept God's offer to play, and when you do, don't sit on the sidelines and watch... PLAY. Participate in the excitement of being on the WINNING team.
Where to even start? I am just so in awe and wonderfully blessed right now. There are so many thoughts and emotions; I really want to get this all out right away. Let it be known that today, August 16, 2011, God really rocked my world.
To give some background first would be a fabulous idea. I am currently in my second year of graduate school at Northwest Christian University. I love the Lord and know that He has gifted me to work with children so naturally I thought that education would be a good route for me. I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education from NCU in May of 2010. I have been substituting since and have really enjoyed it; I know God has used me and it’s where He wanted me. But as I’ve been continuing my education I have had many doubts. Is this really where God wants me? What am I supposed to do? Why am I in class? Is this really worth all of the loans that I have to take out? I really questioned if I should stay in the program. Many people, my wonderful mother included, have talked me out of just quitting. It’s only one more year. I’m so close. The degree would be very helpful and a great accomplishment. So I figured I’d stick it out (but for all of the wrong reasons).
If you know me at all you will know that I am a very busy person. I always take on a lot, probably too much. My plate is always full… you get the picture. Well, recently I’ve heard about another possibility for filling my schedule. I love ministry, and I was told about an opening position as a children’s pastor. Oooh. Right up my alley. It has been something that I’ve been praying about and felt like I should really look into it and apply. But then, do I really need another thing? I know that prayer is very important so I have asked others to lift this up to Jesus, too. The more the merrier. And I am so very thankful to those who have. I know that the Lord is listening.
Now to today… it seemed to be just another normal day. I was complaining about class starting, summer being way to short, and just plain had a negative attitude. Again, I was thinking, “One more year, what do I really have to lose?” But at the same time I was also very conflicted. I also was thinking, “I don’t know if God really wants me to finish this. I’m not usually a quitter, but maybe He wants to show me something through doing so.” I felt like maybe God had brought about the church position as an alternative for me, something that I could do with kids. But there’s no way I could do it all! I already have teaching, school, Good News Club, intramurals, worship team, youth group, Wednesday Night Club, and more. Could He really want me to add something else without dropping something??
Well, I reluctantly did some homework and went to babysit for a bit before class. Thankfully I babysit for beautiful women of God and today I got to pray with a mom and her sick child. I really feel like even that was preparing me for what He had for me. I got to class and was just not feeling very settled. (It probably really didn’t help that I had a coffee earlier today – I don’t drink coffee very often.) Anyway, we were discussing our projects and what we had in mind. And since I started thinking about my action research and literature review I have felt very unsure. But I gave my ideas and listened to everyone else’s. Then, right near the end of class, I finally heard something that my teacher had been saying. The practicum doesn’t have to be at a school. And I felt or heard, I’m not really sure, God tell me that it would connect perfectly with the church job! All in an instant, things clicked. There is a reason He has me in this program. The Lord can use me to teach, I mean really teach, in church. Kids need more than just stories and if they have good curriculum and delivery they will take away much more than they have been. My M.Ed. in curriculum design and instructional technology will not be a waste. The Lord wants to use those things in the church, too, to build His body of believers and meet them through new means. A surge of energy filled me and I knew that the Lord has a plan! I finally know a direction and feel a purpose. Praise Jesus!
I have always know that Jeremiah 29:11 was true, that God has a plan for me, but when I can truly feel it and get a glimpse of what it is it is so amazing. Really, what a rush. J And there have been several times when I’ve said that His plan and His timing are the best; I’ve encouraged others with those words and repeated them to myself when in need. It is more than true. God is perfect. He knows best. Why do we doubt? He reassures us in His word, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:26). Such a wonderful feeling. Rejoice is all I could do. I excitedly got in my car and the song that was on the radio (Air1, of course. What else would I listen to?) was just for me. It was about 6:45 pm and Whatever Your Doing by Sanctus real was playing. I didn’t really need another thing to reaffirm what was going on inside of me, but God gave it anyway. “Whatever You’re doing inside of me, it feels like chaos but somehow there’s peace. And it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see, but I’m giving into something heavenly.” This is exactly what was happening. God gave me a glimpse of what He has. I don’t know it all, it seems a little crazy, but I have a peace because I am giving it to Him and it is a heavenly plan. The car ride home turned into a hardcore worship session (I love it when that happens), and I am still just so overjoyed as to what God is doing.
The Lord has revealed to me a bit of His plan and I really felt that I wanted to share this with others. There are many people that I care about and want to be included in what’s going on in my life, and right now God is really moving in me and doing some awesome stuff. I really don’t want this fire and excitement to go away. I know that I won’t be on this high forever. This is when the enemy is really going to want to attack. So please keep me in your prayers. As I serve the Lord and go down this path that I know He has shown me I am going to need all the love and support that we all do. I can’t do this alone. I know I have Jesus, but I would love to have all of you as well. My friends, family, brothers and sisters, you are wonderful. Thanks so much for taking time to find out what God is doing in me. I love you all!
Vacation Bible School.
Not a vacation, but lots of Bible and we sure did school those kids. :)
It was such a blessed week. I couldn't imagine not being fortunate enough to be a part of what God does in the life of children during the summer.
For example, one of the few that gave their lives to the Lord truly blessed my heart. I gave the invitation using the Acts 16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Four children from the first grade group came out with me. I asked them why they were there (a couple came back almost every day) and I got some random answers. ie. "I'm thankful for my dog." HAHA. But when I asked the last little boy his response was, "I want to believe on Jesus." So pure and innocent. That boy got saved on Friday and the angels in heaven were rejoicing with us!
There's so much that could be said about the week, and I am just so very thankful for being used by God.
A PowerPoint presentation that I put together barely does justice to what went on.
Pre-school. Elementary School. Middle School. High School. Bachelor's. Master's.
But does learning really have a beginning? Or an end? From the time you're born you start gaining knowledge. And the older I get the more I realize that there is so much that I do not know. I won't be done learning until I am at home with Jesus. Right now, I'm learning about my profession and how to be the best I can. Grad school is a lot of work, and though I can't wait to be done, it is all worth it.
Then there's teaching. Most people throughout their lives have the opportunity to educate at some level. For me, the call came on a different level. I began working with children and teaching them at church and other places when I was in middle school, and have gradually grown into a better teacher. As the years go on I have more opportunities to teach and hope to do so for many years to come. All my work as a student, learning how to educate (CYIA, NCU, etc.), has really been a blessing and helped me to be the teacher I am today.
I don't know what God has planned for my future, but this is where He has brought me and where He has me now. It is my prayer that I will do it all to His glory; hopefully, I do my best, and do it all for HIM.
You hear this phrase all the time, but there are moments in our lives when we can really see the reality of that fact. When my youth group started talking about a college-age retreat I was enthralled by the idea. I was very much in need of some time to get away and just be with Jesus. (Didn't hurt that it was at the coast.) And the cost of $35 was not bad at all for a weekend at a nice house on the beach. Then when my car started acting up and it was estimated to cost $1700 to fix I began to fear that I wouldn't be able to go.
The first amazing thing that God did in the situation was to bring someone to help with my car. A very kind family selflessly gave, and it only cost me $450 to get my car up and running again! But now I was short a bunch of money that I didn't really have to spend in the first place. I was unsure whether or not to sign up for the retreat.
I still felt the need to get away and focus on the Lord. So I figured I would just trust God to take care of things. Shortly after God did another amazing thing: He brought me $35! I was asked to babysit and for the time I did that's exactly what I was paid!! I know for sure it was His plan for me to go. My excitement was high. Up until it was time to go that is...
The weekend was GREAT... but it was so in a different way than I had expected. I'm usually really good about not having expectations and just going with the flow. Not this time. Yet God still rocked my world; it wasn't in a hugely spiritual way like I'd imagined. He blessed us with fantastic weather on the Oregon coast, provided some quick/strong bonding with friends, and He has revealed places where I need growth and more trust in His timing and plan.
Since my blog is titled "Story of my life." I find it fitting to start with who I am.
What is MOST important is that I am a follower of Christ. I am far from perfect, but God is working in me and growing me into the woman that He wants me to be.
I was born in Carson City, NV to parents who neither one really had a relationship with Jesus. My mom was raised atheist yet always believed there was a god, and my dad was "Catholic" (by association, mostly). Divorce is what moved my mom, younger brother, and myself to Veneta, OR. Looking back it's obvious that God had his hand in all of it, and that He was using it for our good (Rom. 8:28). Not wasting much time a neighbor invited us to church. And my mom gladly accepted the invitation. And soon after it just clicked for us. We knew that this teaching was TRUTH!!! I, at the age of about four, accepted Christ as Savior and began this amazing journey of my life.
I have loved the Lord since then and am really learning a lot every day. In eighth grade I went to Acquire the Fire and made a couple commitments to God. I decided, with the help of the ATF crew: no R rated movies or secular music for a month. This was hard - I missed a school dance and was outcast by my friends. But it was me making my faith real and struggling for probably the first time.
Through high school and college I was very involved in church still, and also found a calling on my life for short term missions. God has taken me all over and is planning my future trips. Another thing I have discovered is a gift for teaching and working with children. Being an older sibling (I'm the oldest of 5!), being involved in church, Christian Youth in Action, and Northwest Christian University have all contributed to my teaching ability and making me into the educator Jesus would have me be.
I'm not sure what exactly my plans are for this blog, but we will see where God takes it, and where He takes me in my life here as I live for Him.
