Family, Friends, and Food

I am exceptionally excited for the holidays this year. I always love holidays...but I'm definitely not a, "listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving" kind of person. In fact, I personally don't blast Jingle Bells while I'm at home. I really don't have any expouding thoughts on the holidays and its spiritual meaning. I have, however, had the holidays on my mind for quite some time. So, why not jot a few of these happy thoughts down!

I don't live very close to a lot of my family, so when the holidays come rolling around the corner I gear up to see the family that lives out of town. I say gear up because its always a time of stretching for me...honestly its not the funnest time in the world. But this year...I've decided to make it fun. I think, let's make it all about family! Whether that family is by blood or Christ's blood (wow, that was a cheesy line!!). Regardless I'm excited to spend time with my church family, but also enjoy those moments with my more immediate family that always create lasting memories.

There is something about the cold weather that makes me think of friends and all the fun that is packed in with it. I'm the type of person that ejoys quality time with a person versus just going to the mall and not speaking to eachother while you look for those pair of jeans you've been longing for. I would much rather sit on a nice warm couch with a cup of hot chocolate and spend two hours laughing, talking, and maybe...a little wrestling! Since its so cold outside I find that there are many, many more opportunites for my kind of relationship building. I look forward to it every year just like most people count down the days until they can happily blast the Christmas music.

Food. I love food. It is so satisfying and creates an avenue for people to chit chat at the next holiday party. Where I'm from there is always food at any get together. And, I must say I find myself near the goodies table about 60% of the time. No, I don't eat plates and plates of food, but I find that I rather enjoy the small conversations you can have with people while they are deciding which cookie best fits their current mood. The majority of the people always visit the food table, what a better way to actually talk to most of them than standing near the one thing that draws people in. On another note, food, is just a favorite of mine. I can't expand on that anymore. Holiday food I look forward to every single year. If you know me, you understand what this section truly means to me :)

Yay for holidays this year! Its such a time filled with joy, laughter, and building. I'm so excited to spend each day enjoying what God has given me and laughing at the thought that I wish God gave me a faster motabolism so I could have the ability to eat all the sweets that cross my path this upcoming holiday season. Enjoy!

God is BIG

I just got done chatting with a friend, which lives in Portland, about his cousin – Luke - who, proclaimed by the doctors, might never walk again. I sat there and read (we were on FB messenger) about his cousin’s condition, his personal journey through this, how his uncle is doing and the faith that is being built up in his family. We basically ended the conversation talking about how good God is in every situation, even when we don’t deserve it. And, to remind you, this is coming from my friend, the cousin of Luke. Once we finished up our conversation I sat at my desk, yes at work unfortunately, frozen and consumed by God. Honestly, I still am.

God is beyond good, beyond what we can imagine. This friend of mine told me that his family has had the chance to minister to other families while in the hospital. God is big, and I mean BIG in this situation. You can just tell. (This all might sound…not so put together, but I’m writing as it flows from my heart – just bare with me.) This friend of mine began to tell me how his faith is being built. He is basically growing deeper with God, seeing a different perspective of God, and being amazed at how good God truly is. I’m amazed how God takes a situation into His hands, if we let Him, and is so faithful through the whole thing, regardless if we deserve it or not. God just amazes me!

On, to my next thought. As I’ve began to listen to updates of Luke and the family I personally have been walking in a place that can “feel” a bit difficult. I remember so clearly one day at work I was talking with God about what a bad day I was having when I remembered my friend and his cousin. Talk about open mouth, insert foot. It really put things into perspective for me. I’m complaining about people being rude, yet, I get to hear about how good God is from my friend in his situation. It leads me to this thought, what do I really have to complain about? My life is blessed. Amazingly blessed. Yet, I so easily look pass all those things and concentrate on circumstances that are ever so small. On top of all that, I let it ruin my whole day to the point that I become too focused on myself I’m not showing God to anyone…because of one, stupid, minute circumstance. To bring this to a close I quickly realized how good God is, how patient, kind, loving, faithful, powerful He is (of course the list could go on). God is BIG, why not think BIG!

Because I know that prayer works I’m going to add to this a list of things you can pray for Luke for. Please do so. Even though God is big, this situation still requires prayer and lots of it.

Luke –

• Complete healing in his lungs – so he can breathe on his own.
• Complete healing in his back – so he can walk again.
• Inner healing (sorry don’t know too many details)
• Pain to subside
• Family, both immediate and extended – specifically Luke’s mom.
• His mind, will, and emotions. Through this God can be his shield.

Streeeeetch!!

Portland, Portland, Portland. That word (and place) has been a reoccurring theme in my mind, and I’m afraid it won’t leave until I get it onto this computer and up on my blog. About a month ago my friend and I decided to make a road trip to good ol’ Portland, Oregon. Luckily we know a great church there and some great people to meet up with! Little did we know what we were in for! As I begin I hope that you let any of these words, sentences, or phrases spark your attention and begin your own personal wildfire in your life.

To start off - my friend is interested in going to a bible college over there and needed to plan a date to go visit and tour the campus. Her and I had wanted to take a mini-vacation, so we thought let’s plan it, pack up, and head out. We knew one person there, was going to meet up with one gal that we had briefly met, and the rest was up to us. We also decided to stay on campus, in the dorms. We were excited beyond all get out and were close to being hyper the whole way there…besides the car sickness of course. My idea of the whole trip had something to do with hanging with friends, lots of laughing, seeing the beautiful Portland, and enjoying God in all of this. All that happened, plus more, just in a way that I didn’t expect.

(Let me warn you, this might be quite a lengthy post as this has been on my mind and heart for some time now. God obviously won’t let me just “shake” the experience because He came and brought a nice “shaking” to my comfort zone and views on a couple of things.)

I am the pastoral administrator for my youth church and am walking through the journey of figuring out and making sure that every single young person is connected and plugged in. The thought of seeing every young person connected and seeing their lives being drastically transformed has become my heart. Apart of who I am. I would even go as far as to say that this ministry has somehow mixed itself into the very DNA that makes up who I am. Basically, I think about it a lot. So, of course I’m going to think about it when I go to a new church. So, I had these questions literally taking laps through my mind on our way there. How do they connect people? How friendly will they be? What’s it like to be a new person in an amazing church? What am I missing at home when I meet new people? I haven’t been the “new person” for about five years and have completely and utterly forgotten the…oh, what’s a good word…torture. No, that’s a bit too harsh, how about…completely and utterly forgotten the feeling of looking invisible, uncared for, and…horribly uncomfortable. That may not be the truth of what is really happening, but that sure is how you feel.

Now, as I continue this post I want to reinforce that this church is GREAT and those moments of unlikely feelings quickly passed. But, those brief moments taught me what it’s like to be on the other end of the deal and how stinkin’ important it is to look up from your own feet to stick out your hand long enough to meet someone new and make them feel welcomed and valued. Without going into lengthy (more than I already have) details my friend and I were put in some pretty awkward situations. Having people look right pass us, meet us and five minutes later act like that introduction never happened, and standing in the back during an event are very hard to walk through – yet, the very thing I needed to stretch myself into to understand how to reach new people, and the areas I personally need to change in my own life. As I got up each day and continued to taste the bible college lifestyle I found that I began to fall in love with my role I play in the church, with the youth of the NXT, and with God’s heart for young people. As I watched young people all around me passionately pursue God’s call on their lives I couldn’t help but think that I wish every young person that attends the NXT and FLC catches what all of these people have caught: value, significance, vision, dreams, joy, the list could go on and on.

Honestly, I was amazed at myself. My brain was racing with thoughts, ideas, and dreams on how to reach people now and how I can reach them in the future. It consumed me like a fire consumes a dry field in the dead of summer. And, I have to say that those few moments of uncomfortability (is that a word?) was worth every God thought, dream, and idea. I wouldn’t have traded any moment of the trip for what God has so dearly pressed on my heart.

I have to add, just to show how good God is, that I was amazingly blessed by a few people. They were the few that took their eyes off of themselves and simply asked questions, remembered our names, checked up on us, and took us around town all the while having meaningful conversations. That blessed me beyond reason and left an imprint in my heart. I found myself thinking about each one of them on the drive home and how I can incorporate at home what they showed to my friend and I while at Portland. I want to show God’s love, even in the little things. I learned that God’s love seems to show the brightest when it is shown in the little things, the unexpected, and the minute details that every new person sees and feels.

Let me leave you with this challenge. When was the last time you walked up to someone you hadn’t met and actually sat with them for longer than 5-10 minutes? Did you remember their name when you saw them the next time? I would encourage anyone who reads this to allow God to show you His heart for people that don’t know him…or in my case people who do know Him. God will be faithful in showing you his vision and passion for people in general or maybe someone closer to you than you think. Look beyond yourself just once and you may leave a life-long imprint on someone that helps mold that person into the man or woman they are called to be. God is big, and we all know that. But, let’s show someone how big He really is by a simple handshake and a few questions.

Me, Me, Me....or, wait, maybe not!

I've slowly been coming to grips with the thought that friendships aren't always about me and my benefit. It obviously is a thought that God is still transforming and changing, but I thought I'd share a few thoughts on this topic. Let me restart this blog...except "story-telling" style!

One fine afternoon, when the sun was thankfully shining in the middle of a season that is known to freeze off every finger that you posses I had a jaw-dropping, tear-jerking, somewhat of a face slapping conversation with two people that can easily say, "Been there done that." While discussing many issues of life I had this thought presented to me that I had always refused to think.

You've got to allow God to bring you to a place of realizing that relationships aren't only what you can get out of them. Instead, shift that thought and know that God is going to place certain people around you that need a piece of Rose.

Now, don't let me fool you. That comment can seem a bit...prideful, conceited, whatever you may choose. In reality it pressed me to my international boundaries. And yes, I said international. It stretched me beyond every reasonable limit. I have to give of myself, even when I don't "feel" like it. I mean, I'm sure Jesus had some moments of wishing He was left alone. Had the testing thought, "Are you going to keep giving, or sit back and let them pass you by?" Fortunately He didn't sit on His bum and watch the world pass. He got up, and gave of Himself. He gave of Himself until, literally, there was nothing to give. And, how did that affect the person on the other side of the relationship? One word, redemption. It was life-changing for all of us.

So, why don't I do that myself? Is life all about me or how God can use me to affect the multitudes? If the word multitude is too much of an expanding word I'll break it down. How is God going to use you with your brother, co-worker, the fellow student that always seems to be in all of your classes, or the friend that you literally spend every moment with?

When this thought smacked me in my face a few times I began to question if I was even able to impart into people. Let me shut that lie down real fast; yes, yes you can. God hasn't set us in a place that is too hard to handle when we function through His grace. Here's a line I like, "God hasn't given us the responsibility without the ability." So yes, I, as well as you, can step out of "me world" and step into, "how can I change the world?"

Let me just say, it is amazing what happens when you start submitting yourself to allowing God to work through you. People that you least expect might just come up to you that need a piece of you, and by you I mean the power of the Holy Spirit that is flowing through you.

Welp, that's my current thought. Step into it, stand in it, soak in it, and let the transformation begin.

First steps

I'm in the 2nd year of School of Excellence. One bonus that comes with being in the second semester of SOE is almost each one of us gets to preach at our Friday morning chapel. So, what does this include? The journey of allowing God to lay on my heart a word for my classmates as well as myself. I was given a word quite a while ago that I feel God wanted me to study out for my sermon. I put it on the shelf for a while and waited. Every time I wondered what I should share, God persisted with the original thought - so, I'm rollin' with it. Why did I title this post first steps? Today, I started the extensive journey, maze, whatever you feel the need to call it, to allow God to develop this word in my heart. In simple terms - STUDY!

Every time I study it reminds me of a race. I'll refer to a 400 race in track since that was my favorite race in high school. The first corner seems to be the hardest. My heart rate goes up and I begin to excersise the art of learning to control my breathing and begin to picture myself in each stage of the race so I can dominate when I come to each point. Sometimes I have the fleeting thought, "Why the crap am I sprinting a whole lap around this track? Am I insane?" But the sight of the end is what forces me to keep striding forward. Every time I start a word study I have no clue what it has in store for me. I have the idea, the feeling of what comes at the end; but, I have to start somewhere and work my way through it. By the first couple of Hebrew definitions I think, "Where is this going? It makes no stinkin' sense." But, the vision of developing a word to give to my classmates that is from God's heart pushes my fingers to keep flipping pages and my heart staying sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite things to do is encourage people. So, if anyone does read this and you are starting a word study, want to start a word study, running a race, or simply living life I encourage you to keep putting one foot in front of the other with God's vision in your eye sight. God has a plan and a vision for your life, which means it breaks down to your every move. He has a plan for the wordy study, the race, the conversation, the job, and etc. Do you believe it though? Do you believe God has a plan for your life, that He cares and loves you that much that He has the best possible plan for you regardless of what you have done in the past or are doing now? Better yet do you believe He gave you the ability to reach the finish line? I can answer those questions for you if you aren't sure. Yes, yes He loves you that much. He sent His only son to die for you. Let me repeat that; knowing you will keep sinning God sent Jesus to die for you. Did you read that all the way? Read it again. He sent Jesus to die for you. God loves you that much. So if God did that then you bet He has a plan for your life and is going to extend His grace, divine assistance, to walk out His plan. Step into His grace and allow Him to be your breath, the muscle that expands your lungs in the 400 race. Let Him show you the direction; most of all, let God love on you.

Well, I didn't quite expect all that to come out of a simple explanation of starting a word study. But, I guess that is what is on my heart. God loves each of us beyond what we can imagine. Walk with that, run with that, live with that thought.

Blank canvas, paint, colors, and finished product.

I haven't painted once since I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. Some quick background information; I used to spend many hours drawing, shading, painting, critiquing my own drawings and sometimes paintings. Most of my paintings were in art class, yet still my own.

Tonight I picked up a paintbrush and attacked a crisp, blank canvas. I have to admit it was quite intimidating at first. How do I make this blank canvas beautiful? Do I have what it takes to create something that is worth putting on my wall? I didn't realize you had to have confidence in yourself to simply put paint on a canvas.

I had a couple of words mixed with a variety of vibrant colors that popped! It was an adventure to say the least. I was amazed that once I made the first stroke the ideas started to flow. No wonder God loves us more than we can imagine. We are His creation. We were once His blank canvas that turned into a literal masterpiece; intricate, colorful, textured, and powerful. I am God's masterpiece.

I am His creation. As I sat there and added colors upon colors I kept thinking, "This is mine." It brings me to God and that I am His. I am unique, like non other. For some reason that thought hasn't left my mind for about a month. God created me, then sent His son out to buy me that I could have eternal life hanging on His wall showing all His glory!

Anyways, those are some thoughts running through my brain. I forgot how fun painting can be. Not a burden...more enjoyable. Fun to see what you come out with and if you like it or not. Try it. Sit down, and paint away. Enjoy!