Off to Spirit West Coast

Well, I'm off! I'm not sure how many of you really read my blog, but to the 3 of you who do, I would just like to let you know that I am super excited to go to Monterey. I look forward to wearing my lovely John Deere hat that Jacob gave me and to go see Toby Mac! Have fun while I'm gone, maybe I'll update in Salinas.
MESSAGE FOR AZY:
If you are reading this sister, I miss you! I know SWC is going to be totally lame with out you (okay, maybe not TOTALLY lame) but you are in my prayers! I love you and I can't wait until you are able to come home!

Lunch Break Devo!

So my lunch break is over in like 5 minutes, but I thought it was pretty cool because I didn't really feel like eating my burrito today but the Lord totally provided pizza! Anyways, I read this verse and felt compelled to share it on my handy blog-its a good reminder not to be selfish with the money God has provided me with. Enjoy!

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."[a] 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

1 Cor 9:6-14

I have a roomie!

So I am totally excited because I just found out who my roommate is for the Fall, and it's actually my friend from high school. I totally left it to the Lord and I was praying that whoever it was it would be God's will, so I'm really thrilled about that. Today, praise God, was a good day, or rather, I am thankful to be following such a good, or rather, GREAT God. I struggled a little in certain areas, some sin that still seems to rear its ugly head, but other than that, it's all gravy. I also spoke to Jacob today and he actually got off of work yesterday at 11 at night! That poor boy, he is so exhausted and he really needs prayer. I'm so proud of him, he works so hard, and i haven't heard him complain once. Such an honorable person! Prayers for him would be fantastic!
Thanks you guys!

Starbucks and a Movie

So this weekend I felt nothing but anxiety and my relationship with the Lord seemed to be on hold as I worried about all of my concerns. I felt like all day I was holding everything inside-even at church I decided not to go up for prayer because I guess I didn't feel like sharing with a complete stranger my prayer need-I knew I needed to talk to someone who knew me and I guess wouldn't judge me for my sin (not that the prayer deacons would). After driving mom home (and realizing that I was supposed to teach the girl's Bible Study) I drove back and went to Small Groups. As time went by anxiety was building and it wasn't until afterwards that I was really able to feel better. Brooke and I went to another room and talked for about half an hour, and I think that was when I just broke down and told her all of my worries and fears. Last week was really difficult at work, a time of humbling and character building and on top of that, my emotions were going wacko! I didn't know how I felt about anything and today it finally all spilled over. Brooke is such an amazing, patient young women who seeks the Lord and provides some awesome godly advice. After talking to her I was able to call Jacob where we ended up going to Starbucks. I was able to tell him everything that was bothering me, and praise God, as usual, he was as patient as ever and completely understanding. He was also honest with me about the things he couldn't really answer and knew that only God would be the one who would truly be able to answer me. We also saw my friend Joey, from high school, and that was nice. I hadn't realized how much I missed West Campus, when all year I hated it. Anyway, Jacob and I ended up joking around and split this wierd lemonade drink that he didn't like and ended up flicking wads of paper at each other. It was such a sweet time, I feel like that was the first real time we were able to sit down, talk, and really enjoy each other's company. I guess something I realize is that I worry way too much for things that I don't need to worry about-I know I said this in my other post, but it's honestly the truth. I thought that I had given up everything to the Lord, but I was far from it. Going to Small Groups was also convicting because I was able to see a lot of areas that God could work and improve me on. But back to my evening...

Jacob and I ended up coming back home where dad made Spaghetti and we watched Meet the Robinsons with mom and dad. Mom thoroughly enjoyed it and I was very proud (and impressed) because dad stayed awake through out the entire thing! I feel like the burden has been lifted from me and even though I am tempted to worry, I know that I follow a sovereign God who is greater than my troubles, worries, and fears. It turned out to be a pleasant evening after all. However, I don't feel to ready to go back to work, the weekend seemed so short! I also miss Azad and Arpee! God is in control, I am not. And that's that.

By the way, please pray for me because I am also very ancy and a bit frustrated.

I've been Tagged!!!

A. Attached or Single: Attached to Jesus!
B. Best Friend: Jesus and my sisters!
C. Cake or Pie: Chocolate Cake!
D. Day of Choice: Friday
E. Essential Item: My Bible!
F. Flavor of Ice Cream: Chocolate-doy, doy!
G. Gummy bears or Worms: Sour gummy worms ( I agree with Arpee, except for the part of them being stale. That would just break a bracket)
H. Hometown: Fresno
I. Indulgences: Chocolate Ice Cream!
J. January or July: January
K. Kids: Yuck, never. lol
L. Last Movie I saw in a Theater: Indiana Jones-that movie was a bit wacko if you ask me!
M. Middle Name: Joanna
N. Number of Siblings: Dos
O. Orange or Apples: Oranges!
P. Phobias or fears: Fear-I hate hights! Even in my dreams I am gripped with fear!
Q. Quote: "If I find in myself a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
R. Reasons to Smile: Jesus, totally. And Jacob, but mostly Jesus. lol
S. Season: Spring-oh, I love when the flowers just start to bloom and there is a cool breeze. If Spring was a place, I'm pretty sure I would live there.
T. Tag 3: Jesus, haha. That would be pretty tight if Jesus had a blog, maybe some guy named Jesus has one (think Spanish) but that obviousally wouldn't be the same. I guess Jesus (Christ, that is) does have a blog, the Bible! Except we can't really make comments or post things on it...okay, that was quite a tangent.
U. Unknown fact about me: When I was younger I always wanted to be a cat so I wouldn't have to do any chores.(and I wanna live on a farm)
V. Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Oppressor, definitely. I praise God for cows.
W. Worst Habit: Not hanging up my clothes and overeating.
X. X-rays or Ultra-sounds: X-rays all the way! I am so intrigued by our skeletal system!
Y. Your favorite food: Oreos! and chicken Shawerma from the broilers)

Setting My Heart On Things Above

"Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Colossians 3:1-4

So, a humbling realization is that I have not been setting my heart on things above, but rather on my own life and relationships. I also have come to grips with the fact that there are just some things in life that I absolutally can't control, and there is really no use in worrying about them but rather to trust that God is taking care of them. I think a lot of times I tell the Lord, "Don't worry about it, I got this one" but the truth is, when ever I try taking things in my own hands, disaster strikes! And then, I am brought to my knees in humble submission, realizing that it was not me who was supposed to be in control, but rather, God. Now, you have to know that this isn't the first time I have learned this lesson, nor (I'm sure) will it be the last. But at the same time, I feel so liberated. I didn't realize how much I was worrying about things that I could have been trusting in God with all along. At the same time, I feel like I am at a standstill, kind of uncertain of what to do next. How do you go from letting go and letting God? And that has been my prayer-that I would just focus on Jesus and growing in Him-because that's ultimately what matters the most.

I am also super excited that I was able to talk to Azad last night-apparently there is reception at main camp. I am so proud of her and am amazed to see how much she is growing, which is a huge reason that made me want to start evaluating my walk with the Lord and made me want to grow in Him even more. She reminded me that my relationship with God is so important and that God is the one who is going to sustain us. At church yesterday I was also reminded of how I was not putting God first. We had this conversation on how we as humans try so desperately to put our hope in other things or people, when ultimately we come out dry. I have gap that only God can fill and satisfy, and I want to be content with Him alone.

Going to Work

So I woke up this morning at 6 am ( I don't have to be at work until 10). I spent some awesome time with the Lord, first journaling and then praising him through music, and then diving into the Word. I think God is teaching me how to praise Him when things suck and I've realized that as soon as things seem to go wrong I'm not so enthusiastic to give God glory. That was something we talked about at small groups, how when things are great we are totally praising the Lord and then when things go in the opposite direction, we are thinking, "God who?"

Yesterday was just one of those days at work-I just kept messing up and I even ended up transfering the wrong person! This morning I realized that I wasn't keeping my eyes on the Lord, but rather on my own mess ups. I am so thankful that Jesus loves me inspite of who I am and what I have done, and the fact that there is nothing that I could possibly do to ever gain his love or affection.

I'm also super excited about living on campus and I found out yesterday that our move in date is August 21st (Arpee's birthday!) . However, I'm trying to not get to excited just in case things dont work out as planned. I've decided to trust God about it and leave it to Him. So as I listen to Shane and Shane on my computer, I will leave you with an awesome verse to get your day started (not to mention mine)



"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm 118:27



Just know that whatever you may be going through, God is totally walking with you. Even when you feel like crud, he's standing next to you and feels your pain and your suckiness. lol I'm excited to see how God is working in me! Have an awesome day!!!

Into His Presence

My heart longs for You
My soul thirsts for You
Show me the place
Where I can go and meet You

Underneath Your waterfalls
Deep will call to deep
Rapids and breakers will wash over me
I long for You in a dry and weary land

Take me into Your presence
Into Your courts
Lord I'm longing to worship
Face to face
I will bow at Your throne
I was made for this alone

Why so downcast oh my soul?
Put Your hope in God
For I will yet praise You
My God and my Savior

At night your song is with me
By day Your love surrounds me
I lift up a prayer to the God of my life
I long for you in a dry and weary land

I think this pretty much sums up my thoughts at the moment.

Chillin' with the Lord

So this is my first blog and after much deliberation (and the fact that Arpee tagged me) I decided to start one as well. I think I'm mainly doing this to track my walk with the Lord and to see Him move in amazing ways in my life. Today was just one of those days that you have a lot of time to sit and think and sleep, and then wake up and think some more. I realized that I wasn't seeking the Lord as I should be and I've even become complacent, which is scary. This song by Starfield came on my Ipod and some words stuck out to me:

"What do I have if I don't have you Jesus?
What in this life can mean any more?
You are my rock, you are my glory,
You are the lifter of my head."

I want to be sold out for the Lord and to just grow closer to Him. I want to be stretched and to mature in walk...I'm tired of comfortable Christianity. God is worth so much more than I think I make Him out to be. I'm so thankful for His grace and the fact that He is so sovereign. I'm excited to see what Christ is going to do in my life and in my heart-I'm ready to be transformed by His amazing love!

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2