Planning your future are you?

So I keep planning my future. Am I going to do the fire academy or am I going to finish at LBCC first. How long am I going to stay at my job. Where am I going to live in the next few years. Where am I going to attend paramedic school. What days will I leave open for snowboarding. Which weekends will I ride dirt bikes. When will I meet my husband, what will he look like. Thoughts of my future and the planning I try to do consume me on a day to day basis. I get stressed out when I am on the fence, when I am unsure of what I want to do or what God is going to do. I can't relax until I have a definite plan, until I know exactly what I will be doing.

Last night at Life Group we had an amazing worship sesh followed by a great conversation. God pretty much said "Rachel stop planning your life" So I flip open my bible and stumble upon this: "Everything had already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So theres no use arguing with God about your destiny." Ecclesiastes 6:10

Then today I pick up where I left off in James. I read this "Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:13-17

God really does teach you what you need to hear at the right time. I thank Him for that. No plan is definite, no plan is set in stone, things don't always go as you wish, nothing works when you do it on your own. BUT: God always has a plan, God always knows whats going on, God wants you to trust him and God will never leave you.

Trust God

Give your life to God

STOP trying to do things on your own- Go to GOD! He is waiting for you.

GOD never fails- HE ALWAYS LOVES

Equally Yoked

So what do you do if you meet someone who seems like a great potential. They are generous, they are kind, they are funny, they have a promising career, they do the things you like to do...BUT they are not on the same spiritual level as you?

This had been running through my head for the past week. The earthy female inside me wants to just go for it and finally have a nice boyfriend; but there is still that foundation inside me that says no this is not what i want for you. I know in my head that we should be equally yoked, have the same spiritual levels etc, but I still didn't fully have a way of expressing it. So today I searched for answers in the Word. (It's crazy how as soon as you learn it from Jesus or the Word it is completely clear and you no longer have trouble in your mind of what to do.)

Yoke= to join together//bind//join

Genesis 2:24

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, ⁴ for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.

1 Corinthians 11:3

But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.

Ephesians 5:25-27

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

So what I get from this is that Jesus wants us to be able to fully worship Him and live for Him first so that when man and woman join as one they are equally living out Gods word and being a light to everyone together. There cannot be a division of spirituality between man and women. Going through this in one short week sure has taught me a lot on patience. The two things I struggle with the most are impatience and stubbornness. Knowing why I am waiting on the Lord for 'the perfect person' makes me able to wait 20 years if I have to. I would rather be single living my life for God than to hurry God and just go into a relationship with the wrong person and have that huge distraction from God.

So Lord I pray that I wait for someone who will only help me in my faith, that will lead me spiritually towards your kingdom, someone who will love you more than me, and live his life the way you called him to. I will not settle, I will wait on you Lord for I know your plans are great and worth waiting for. I pray that as I wait I use that time wisely. I use it to grow closer to you, stronger in my faith, start living my life more for you and less for me, so that when the time comes that I meet my husband I will have a strong foundation that won't be compromised by the distraction of another person in my life.

Keep On

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

A Life Empowered

The Holy Spirit

Wow! Is all I could say after Darren concluded his sermon Sunday on the Holy Spirit. All my life I knew God. I learned the cool little stories about Jesus dying and raising from the dead, about David and Goliath, etc. But the Holy Spirit was left out. I was a bitarian Christian instead of a trinitarian. This past Summer was the first time I heard more about the Holy Spirit besides his name. I had never heard of tongues, I didn't know about spiritual gifts, I didn't know about this huge section God gave us. Now I'm learning, and I like it. Up until Sunday I learned bits and pieces about the Holy Spirit, I was trying to piece together what the Holy Spirit is and does. Besides being weirded out from 'super spiritual' people/acts, I was willing to figured it out. Sunday cleared everything up. Oh the Spirit was definitely alive at Cohiba!

We were a week late, but nonetheless we celebrated Pentecost Sunday by learning about it:

John 14:15-21:

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

-This sums so much up for me how amazing and brilliant our God is!

Genesis 2:7

"Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person."

The Greek word for breath is pneuma, which means spirit. In the beginning the spirit is what gave us life!

Jeremiah 31:33

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people

Ezekiel 36:26-27

"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations."

Joel 2:28

“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions."

We were given numerous examples in the old testament where the Holy Spirit moved for specific purposes specific people at a specific time. We are all able to receive the Spirit!

Pentecost: means 50 years. Day to celebrate Gods outpouring and blessing/and a celebration of a renewed covenant.

Acts 2:1-12

-The Holy Spirit came down with a boom and people started talking in different languages (tongues) glorifying God. God reversed the towel of Babel, for there God confused people with different languages and now He is allowing everyone to speak the same to bring praise to Him.

-The Holy Spirit came to continue the mission God has on earth.

The Holy Spirit is a person, is God. The HS is action. The HS is a promise.

The Holy Spirit fills us up to make living out this life easier. The Holy Spirit makes streams of flowing water pour out of our heart. The Holy Spirit assists us in carrying out Jesus' mission here on earth. The Holy Spirit must be present in our lives, we must accept the Holy Spirit and allow it to bring us closer to God! The Holy Spirit empowers you to be who you are in Christ.

Sunday after service I had Ryan pray for me. I have tried so hard to stay away from the Holy Spirit, afraid of what He will have me do, afraid to let go of earthly things. I am ready. I want all God has to offer and I want to give back. I want to Spirit in me to guide me to do anything God calls me to do. I want to let go of things un-Godly. I want more! While Ryan was praying I heard him praying away stubbornness and impatience! Oh he hit it on the spot! Two things I struggle with most are patience and and a hard heart. (Please pray for those struggles in my life) Then he said he felt like it has taken me longer to let go and accept, but that its okay because God has things happen at different times for different people for different specific reasons. Last summer when I heard what seemed like 1,000 stories of Holy Spirit encounters I was so bummed, wondering what is wrong with me, is my relationship with God not good enough. Well once again God taught me that His timing surely is perfect. Because now that I have heard about the Spirit, and all the things He can do, and how it affects people around me I am finally ready to let go and accept.

Let The Holy Spirit in and LIVE A LIFE EMPOWERED!

A Firm Foundation Doesn't Move

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7: 24-27

Lately I have been in a Spiritual Slump. I do not want to be at Life Group. I do not want to talk God with people. I do not want to pray. I have been taken over by earthly things. Ultimate Frisbee. Snowboarding. Lake. Work. School. ETC. (side note: although i say those things, i still absolutely love going to church on Sundays, i love serving and using my abilities for Christ, i just don't want to do the mental things, like learn more pray more etc)

Last night at The Garden in LB was amazing. God spoke to me big time through Darren! I have not really learned and taken heart to what was being said at the garden for quite some time.

Saturday night i went to riverside with Emma, on the way back we had an hour to talk, and it was a great talk! i realized how great it feels to get things off my chest. i had such an abnormal joy after talking, and all sunday i was just filled up with joy. the craziest thing is even though i "forgot" to pray (or i just didn't pray about the things me and Emma talked about God still answered my un-spoken prayers. I wanted to get out of the slump, learn more from God, walk with God to be like Jesus, and be used by God for others, using my abilities and hobbies for His Kingdom.

So back to Matthew 7. To first change things you must learn what is wrong. I figured out and pin pointed what is wrong in my life. The foolish man builds on the sand because it is EASY to build on sand, but when you build on this sand you risk there being rain and storms and floodwaters. Notice in the above verses it says WHEN the storm comes not IF. There will be trials and tribulations and building on sand WILL NOT let you stand firm, you will crumble and fall and have to pick up your broken pieces. BUT if you build on the firm foundation (even though it is tough to build on the rock), when the storm comes you may get a few shingles flying off your roof, or broken windows, but your built on a firm rock, your foundation is not moving, ever! I realized I built my foundation on that rock. I started building up on this foundation, but it got hard. I figured it was "too hard" so I tried to move my foundation to the sand to complete my building the easy way. But because my foundation is on the rock it is not moving, ever! God will not let me go to the sand now, I'm stuck and I need to complete what I started, no matter how hard it will get.

So now it's time to contact my contractor (or carpenter ;) and ask how and where to build.

PS: I love to serve and I love to be active. This is how God is going to use me and here are some ideas either God has given to me:

-Start a "half time show" or fun day once every other month for the kids at Covenant Pres to gather and play an organized game or activity.

-Free babysitting with Sara- we want to show the love of God through our ability to play with kids, starting with our neighborhood- because after all we do need to love our neighbor as ourself and this is a good way to start

-Do sport gathering at the Garden- ie. Play a game of Ultimate Frisbee Sunday after am service!

-Disciple! start it within our home- I live with 5 girls, if we are going to be disciples lets start with each other! we should know everything about each other, our struggles our praises our everything!

If your reading this, you are now accountable for keeping me accountable ;)

keep it simple stupid

i feel like this is what God is saying to me:

"do not worry child. i love you. why would i want you to starve, go homeless, go thirsty? i will make sure you have all you need (not want). i know what your going to ask me for and i have it ready for you. do what i have called you to do.

i'm not anxious, i am the kingdom, and live to carry out my kingdom. therefore, don't be anxious.

today has enough troubles. so dear child do not waste any time thinking or worrying about what will or will not happen tomorrow.

i love you." -God

he loves me

he cares for me

he is not worried

he knows what i need

I do not have any reason to worry

When We Die

The enemy has been defeated

Death couldn't hold you down

We're gonna lift our voice in victory

We're gonna make your praises loud

We lift your name up!

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What happens when we die? We go to heaven.

As Christians, we think we know what happens when we die. We get to go to heaven and have eternal life. Shouldn't this excite us, and let us be unafraid of death?

Today, I read in 1 Corinthians 15. This chapter is a heavy chapter for me. Paul writes about Jesus' resurrection. Paul writes about who buried Him, and who saw Him rise. Paul explains that Jesus proved to every person that there is life after death, that resurrection can happen. Paul went on sharing about death, and what happens when we die.

Why do we die?

V22-23 We die because we belong to Adam. Because Adam sinned, we sin, and the punishment for sin is death. BUT because we belong to Christ, we will be given new life.

So when we die, there is hope, not sadness. V42-44 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. ⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴ They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

When we die we live again! We are being transformed into our heavenly bodies. Here is the rest of chapter 15 that I couldn't break into parts because the WHOLE thing is worth reading.

⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

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Satan thinks that death is his victory. But oh is he wrong! Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, death is now means Satan has been defeated. Death does not mean the end of life. It means the beginning of eternal life. A life better than earthly life. A life you get to live next to our Lord. A life of all knowing. A life of no school, work, stress, emotion, money, dos and donts. A life you can ONLY achieve if you live your earthly life the way God wants you to.

Will you achieve eternal life? Will you defeat Satan?

An Audience of One

Lately I have been struggling with being a more "God like person" if you will. When put in certain situations, I act like someone who is not following this great and mighty person. God calls us to not judge. To love your enemy. To love everyone because we are all children of Him. I find myself day to day getting those automatic thoughts when I see certain people. If I see a car with huge rims, I think mexican and ghetto. When I see funny clothes that aren't "in style" I laugh. I see a guy thats older with a creeper mustache I think he is going to hurt me. When I see smoking I think rude. It goes on and on and needless to say, I want that to change. I have been praying lately about my actions and help with looking at people the way Jesus sees them. They are no different than I, because we were all put here with one power, God. Other than judging, I also seem to say the wrong things, or act the wrong way in situations. I am almost afraid to be embarrassed or not be "cool" because of they way I live my life. I do not have this problem with my friends and community that also love and know Jesus Christ. However, when I am at work or in public and something will come up, I will almost conform to that crown to "fit in." I'm not saying if they smoke, I start smoking. But just the little things, like certain remarks on people, etc.

Saturday night I went to this conference for the Garden where Darren, our pastor, explained our view or mission of the church. There was one section Darren touched on which stuck. Darren said he wants us all to be disciples, he wants us all to know how to pray, how to pray for healing, how to talk to people and invite them in to this wonderful life. He left us on this note: Do you live a life work following?

Do I live a life worth following? I say no. Yes, I love and have a relationship with Jesus Christ, yes I do my best to serve Him, yes I go to church and life groups, Yes I have SOME things right. BUT there are things I need work on, things Jesus would never do, things I wouldn't want others to do in the name of Jesus Christ. I need to drive better, slower, less angry. I need to have more patience with "dumb people." <--I need to not think people are dumb, they just think differently than me. I need to stop caring what people think of me and start showing I love Jesus and they should too. I need to stop avoiding conversations that could turn into sharing of the Good News. I need to see the world Jesus sees it. I want God to brake my heart for what breaks His. I want God to open my eyes to the things unseen. I WANT TO LIVE A LIFE WORTH FOLLOWING!

Last night at church I asked Hartley to pray for these things I've been struggling with, and during the prayer she said "let us be an audience on one" I want to start living for an audience of one. and that one is God. He is the only one that matters in the end. He is the one that will judge me when time comes to. He is the one that can say "well done good and faithful servant" Let people think I'm crazy. Let people think I'm weird. Let them see I am different. I will be crazy, weird, and different to live this life worth following.

Today is the day to change. And people reading this; be my accountability.

Creative?

Sometimes, no always, I wish I was creative. For some reason or other God did not give me the gift of having a creative eye. I cannot paint. I cannot draw. I get too distracted and bored when I attempt any art project. I have to see other peoples work to get ideas for my own. I am NOT creative.

I took a class at RCC my senior year in high school. It was photo 8. Intro to Photography. I learned how to use film cameras, how to develop film, what an aperture is, how to meter, etc. The main thing I remember about that class is how impatient I am. To develop film you first have to use a black bag made for NO light to leak in, to take the film out of the canister and put it on a film real and into a different canister. Then you go into the dark room and put this canister that has my film reel into some liquid stuff and wait about 15 minutes. (I forgot a lot so bare with me) Then there are like two other liquids that it has to sit in from 5-15 minutes each. Now the film is ready to not get ruined by light. So then you cut the film into strips and put it in this oven to let it dry. So this is now about 30-45 minutes just to process the film into strips. Not even getting prints yet. Now we look at the film and choose what we want to develop and go to an enlarger. Then you play with how much exposure (light passed onto the photo paper) you need, how big you want it, make sure its in focus, and most importantly is that it is dust free.

After you expose light onto the photo paper you develop it. Again with the different liquids where you have to time it, and make sure its in the right temperature etc. Finally you see a picture and then you put it in an over to dry it. At the end you may look at it and realize there are dust spots, or its under/over exposed, its out of focus etc. Wow 45 minutes to get something that looks like crap. I am not patient enough to try again, so that sucked.

So I found DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras. I'm in love. I also learned more about photoshop. Even more in love.

So now I have a camera, I am getting photoshop. The only thing missing is the artistic eye. How can I find or see something that will become a cool picture? Can you learn to be creative. Is there a class. Or is it something your born with? I can try and try and try to get creative with my camera or photoshop but I never seem satisfied. (another problem is the technical side. This new camera has a lot more setting than I know so its hard to get more than just point and shoot shots)

There is a point to all this information about my thoughts. I wish I was more creative so I can use it for the glory of God. (after time in the word the other day the one verse that stuck was to do all things for the glory of God) I want to express my love for Christ through photos. but I don't know how. I want to be on the "look out" for ways to express my love for Christ and His love for us through photographs. I HAVE NO CLUE how that will work or what I will find, but its time to start thinking CREATIVE thoughts. and to just go out and shoot :)

Photoshop

So I was bored at work:

Growing?

Last night at church was amazing! Darren decided to have community time. Which I absolutely adore! He invited people to come up front and share with the church their story. He also had a time of prayer. Where complete strangers felt comfortable to stand up and ask other strangers to pray for them. How wonderful is our community that we can feel comfortable to ask for prayer when needed, to share stories with our neighbors and to have fellowship. When Darren asked for people to come share their stories I thought to myself what mine would be if I went up.

Four months ago I moved to Long Beach. I grew up in Riverside, I loved Riverside, my family was in Riverside, my friends were all in Riverside. No complaints at all about being in Riverside. But I had to opportunity to move out with friends. I like to be independent and always wanted to move out, just for the adventure of it. So when people asked me why I moved my answer was just cause there was an excuse to move out. There was absolutely no other reason to move to Long Beach, except for adventure.

So when I was thinking about my story I realized, God doesn't open doors for us for the heck of it. Theres a reason behind everything that happens. I know that I moved to Long Beach because God had a plan for me. He got me going to the Garden. He stirred my heart for serving. He placed me in an area to serve. He opened doors for me, and for a reason, not just for an excuse. He brought me here so I can grow.

Growing:

-I have the amazing community that helps my heart to stay on fire for Christ. I see things they do, or their actions and it is a fuel to my fire. I needed the family to "keep me in check"

-I have started making decisions based on Gods will and not mine. I felt the call to serve, I prayed about it. I was given the chance to help set up and tear down the church. 2 months ago I would have told God no and would have went on to seek something more "glamorous" but now I love it, I know that serving God can happen in so many different ways. I gave it all to God and am now being patient and whether God has something else for me or not I feel content with the service opportunity I have.

-I had the chance to get a job doing event ems. This is something I have always showed interest in because you pretty much go to these cool event and get paid for it while responding to injuries when needed. It sounded awesome! This job paid more than I get now, I make my own schedule and it seemed very laid back. There was nothing wrong with it. However I already work 4 days a week and so with this job I would have added at least one day a week of work. I ended up saying no to this job and realizing life is not about working so I can have extra spending money. I need more community time. More God time. More time to serve.

Thank You God for loving me so much

Thank You God for being so forgiving

Thank You God for the friends and family I have been blessed with

Thank You God for giving me a church to call home

Thank You God for life!

Relationship's

It's funny how my time in the Word always seems to reflect conversations or events that have happened recently. Last night Sara, Emma, Billy and I sat in the living room and a conversation started about relationships. It was really Billy and Sara talking about it as I listened in and Emma half slept on the couch. None the less there were some interesting things stated that I enjoyed hearing. I have started to read through 1 Corinthians. Today I am on chapter 7 and this is a whole chapter of Paul expressing opinions on marriage and relationships. One main thing he said that caught my attention was the God gave some of us the gift of marriage and some the gift of singleness. Paul has quite strong feelings about singleness as he states that being single makes it so much easier to focus on God, because marriage is a strong commitment and there is just that much to be a part of taking away from God time. As I wrote down in my notebook/journal thing about what I just read and learned I decided I would also write down how I feel about it. Half way through writing I came to a realization. As much as I would love to meet some "perfect" guy that is all I want in a relationship and is a complete possibility for marriage I have to wait. I am such an impatient person and waiting is not what I want to do. But I have realized that I need to put my trust in God and know that He knows best. I now know that the reason I am single, the reason there are no potential "guys" is because I am not ready. God knows how immature and young I am in OUR relationship. God knows how much more learning I have to do and how much closer I can be to Him with out the distraction of an earthly relationship. I do not and will not know if it is Gods will to let me be a married person when I am older but I know for now, I am not ready to have a relationship. 1 Corinthians 7: 34 says "...in the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband." I am not married AND I am not completely devoted to the Lord. I need to first be completely devoted to the Lord BEFORE he can put me into a relationship. I know for sure a relationship would be way to much of a distraction for me and so I will now work on committing myself to God. Not for the reason of reaching the goal to be ready for an earthly relationship, but for the goal to be satisfied that I have an excellent, everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ.

PS. Paul gives me assurance when he writes, "I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." 1 Cor 7:35

Realization

The other day at work I had a depressed psych patient ask me "Are you happy?" I responded saying yes. He then asked why. I simply said because I love Jesus. And then it was quiet for like 5 mins, then he said "Was that a serious answer?" I told him yes, I am in love with Jesus Christ and He loves me. He said oh.

That made me realize, I love life. I have nothing to complain about, I have been given so much and forgiven so much. There is a great and mighty God out there and I am so lucky to know Him. :)

Wowzers- Its been a long time

So I have been lazy. Heres a recap.

-The Garden. I am in love. I only had to attend this church one time to know this is where I should be. I love the raw, new church atmosphere, but not only that the COMMUNITY that comes with it. I have learned that community is huge. I'm sick of shaking someones hand, asking about their morning, and their name, then I never see them again. At this church I get to met someone new every week. I don't remember a Sunday I have attended that I have not met a new person that is now my friend. I also have been struggling all summer long to figure out where God wants me to serve, when I moved and stopped doing jr. high at the Grove I felt an emptiness in myself that needed to be fulfilled. That emptiness was service. Well God has put me where he wants me, and its at the Garden!

-Career?School? Well I'm not doing school this semester. I had been going back and forth in my mind about what career path I wanted. (In the past two years I have gone from coast guard, to firefighting, to elementary teacher, to possibly nurse or maybe pa or maybe paramedic or just flat out being confused) I attended community college for two years, all I have to show for it is my EMT cert. I HATE school, like literally, do what I can to avoid it hate. After my first day of class, attempting to add classes, and failing I gave up. I am going to work this semester.Sweet! but not I'm even more behind on finishing school. But its okay because I have decided and am positive I want to stay in the medical field. Most likely I will go the RN route, work in ER or trauma for a bit and slowly work on my BA and eventually do my DREAM DREAM job flight nursing (trauma nurse/transport nurse in a helicopter) woot woot!!! OR another route might possibly be PA, but Im leaning towards RN right now :)

-The Fun Stuff. I got to see Paramore this last Tuesday!!!!!! thank you REL!!! they rocked. Also I will be seeing Family Force 5 this upcoming Tuesday!!!! (By far the best/most entertaining band I have seen live) Its going to be a dance party and I'm really excited. I get to go snowboarding in 1 1/2 months!!!! Mammoth opening day is November 12th :) and I have a new board and binding to ride on :))))) In less than a month I get to go riding (my dirt bike) and Im totally stoked!!! Today I bought new gear and am totally excited to use it :D AANDD: I finally am getting another dslr (camera)!!! My last one got stolen :( and I miss taking pictures so roomates beware, In two weeks there will be an immense amount of pictures being taken :p

-I Miss My People. CORRRR come back!!!!!!! Less than two months, omgosh yay! I love you and miss you. ALISHA I get to see you for 5 whole days in Washington in January. Soooo excited!!!! JANE READ come visit I miss you! and to my SPIKEY STICK (aka Alex) you have let us down a few times, you say your coming and then you don't :( please do come soon.

Wowzers. this is long. sorry if you read it all...you must be bored :)

Its only MAY!?!?

So snowboard season ends in about April. Its May and I can't wait until it starts again. Thats not til the end of November. Oh crud! So instead I am going to try and learn how to surf (since snowboarding originated on the concepts of snowboarding) so I have a fun activity to do near my new future home. Which by the way...is coming up very quickly and I am soooo stoked!!!! I just got back from Long Beach looking for places with Jenny. There is a definate possiblity Jenny and Sara are looking at tomorrow. Fingers Crossed :DDD

It Has Been A While Blog

Part 1: "My Venting Blog"

All the people who eat at my work (Original Roadhouse Grill) are PILTS (person i'd like to slap) Honestly, tonight I made $80. First off, I'm not complaining because in 5 hours thats about 12 dolalrs and hour plus my $8/hours already. BUT my sales were $700. Which means if everyone tiped the couredous and typical 15% I would h ave made about $110.  All week has been like this and I try so hard to tolerate it but its just putting a wear on me. But what can I do except be happy I have a job...

Part 2: "My YAY Blog"

6 weeks of school left. That means summer time. Wooooo Hooooo!!!!!

I am also moving out, and if your reading this you most likley already know this, but I am so ecstatic! I will be living with two of my best friends Emma and Arielle and two other friends who shall become great great friends Sara Vanni and Jenny Holderman.  God has blessed us so much with getting roomates now I pray we find a great place to live for the next year or so.  

Part 3: "My I miss you blog"

Cor! I miss you. I can't wait for you to come home. I know God is working through you there, but I cannot wait for you to come back and hang out with us. We are going to have so much fun in our new place when we are all together again.

and 1 week till Alisha is home for summer. YAY!

I can't wait until Jane, REL, Emma, Cor, Alisha,  and I are all together again hanging out haveing a blast like old times.

Part 4: "My (somewhat) Worried Blog"

In one week from tomorrow I am gettin the horendous softball size bump removed off my leg. YAY! It's been there for a year and 5 months now and im so over it. I will no longer have a "3rd butt" However, I am an active person, who gets bored easily and has a job who requires walking, all shift long at a fast pace, and I am worried about the recovery and how long I will be in pain. I hate the after affect of these type of thing and it will probably suck. I have to wear some thing that goes to the top of my knees that i would explain as "sliding shorts" for 3 weeks. So all of May I cannot go to the beach and layout...that sucks! but at least i wont have a bump on my leg anymore...

So True

I was just reading the Sunday Secrets on the Post Secret Blog and I found this.

I 100% agree with this. Sad. But True.

Awwww

Enough Said

Again With The Timing

So I am broke. Like legitimatly. I have my charge card all the way charged, I owe money on my stereo bill still and I have to pay my mom 270/month. Well this moring I realize I have $35 to my name. Threshhold I going to charge me for my monthly bill ($55) and I have an empty tank in my car. Perfect. So I have my mom transfer money so i dont get an overdraft fee and I leave to go snowboarding with some friends. Right as we were leaving Roadhouse calls and says they may need me to work today. So I bail on snowboarding to get shoes and stuff for work. So im sitting here waiting for them to call me back and tell me when to work...but seriously how awesome is that timing on God? I was jsut stressing about money and a job and then a path of income calls me out of the blue. YAY

Also yesterday was amazing. Emma, REL and myself all went to Long Beach to check out the area and the apartments. We pretty much found the place we might be living for the next couple years. It is a little more money than expected but we are all very excited. I just pray that the CARE ambulance job I am relying on getting goes through...and soon.

ANNNNDDDD: Alishas visit last week was sooooo much fun. I loved the feeling of us all being back together and being able to just be ourselves and have a great time.Singing in the car, lip sync contest, beach bon fire, oc swapmeet, coffee, church, spa, movies, cookies, everything was jsut awesome!  Cannot wait for 8 weeks for her to be back. ps alsiha: dont shoot your roomate :p

I love life, I love God, I love my friends, I love how everything is going together :D

Another one of Gods great things

So I went snowboarding today, look at what I saw. This is one of the craziest, most cool things I have ever seen. A complete circle rainbow around the sun. :)