I'm a lover of lyrics. As much as some people hate Hip-Hop/Rap, I find some of the lyrics to have substance and I like finding those gems among the rubbish. A few years ago, a rapper from Atlanta named T.I. released an album called Paper Trail before he was sent to prison. His song called "No Matter What" is what has given me inspiration today. He talks about the struggles that he has been through and even about how he was about to face time in prison, but that no matter what, he was still standing and still strong. One of my favorite lines from the song is "Let Go and Let God." We as Christians don't have anything to worry about! If we've surrendered our lives to God, we can go through life stress-free. Good news, huh? No matter what circumstances we're in, we know that God will bring us through and only use the situation for good. God's character is constant, He is unchanging, so don't you think He'll protect you and help you come out on top? Remind yourselves of His faithfulness, of His character to provide for those who love Him.
In the closing of 2011, I am thankful for living through another year of life. My new year started in September when I came to DTS. I couldn't have asked for a better event to happen to me in life. I have learned so much about God: the Creator, the Father, the Lover, the Friend, Jesus, the model for living, and the Holy Spirit, the Spirit inside of me that gives me power and authority and direction. I'm so thankful that I finished college and experienced life in college. My past doesn't define who I am, but it sure gives me a testimony to God's faithfulness and grace and mercy. So 2012 doesn't begin a journey of faith, it continues this journey that I'm already on.This year will be amazing because of the changes that I've made and because I know God is on my side no matter what. I don't have to worry about finding a job when I get home, or what my friend situation is going to look like, or anything because I know that God has plans for me and promises to fulfill for me! Do you know that God has plans for you? Do you know that God wants to see you conquer the world around you with His help? God just wants your love so that He can continue to love and bless you more than you could ever imagine. Love Him and Let Him :) let go of the world, let go of the stress, let go of the unnecessary, and just hold on to God. He's going to do great things through you and me, I just know it!
So I finally can provide you all with lessons from DTS! This website has all of our lectures recorded on it and I highly suggest starting with Jeff Reid's lesson like we did :) The lectures are in order, kinda, so just go through the recording and ENJOY!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Let Go and Let God in 2012
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Welcome to the Hotel California
I'M IN CALIFORNIA!!!! AGAIN!!!!
So outreach has started, ladies and gentlemen! Yay! One part of DTS down, one to go!
We arrived in Orange County on Thursday, December 22 at 5:00 am and we have been enjoying the cold ever since :) The first day we were here, I was wearing shorts and flip-flops and I was not complaining about being cold because I had forgotten what it's like to be cold. Really. I had. Hawaii had taken that feeling away. But now it's back. It's cold here in California. I sleep in socks, which is weird! Ok, so Thursday was filled with sleeping, moving into our house, eating In-N-Out, and seeing Allan and Nicole! I went shopping with Allan and Nicole, ate yummy tacos, and opened Christmas presents from them and my parents. It was so glorious to be around FAMILY! I always forget how much I love my family until I'm away from them for long periods of time. Friday was the 23rd of December and we had an 8 hour Burn, starting at 8 am and ending at 4 pm. This was a time filled with constant prayer and worship and boy did I learn a lot and hear a lot from the Lord. Starting outreach off with prayer makes such an impact! When you pray, you're plowing and asking God to do the hard work, so that when you are working (or sowing) it's easy. Prayer is so powerful!
On Saturday, we hung out in the morning and I went to the bank and
grocery store with Donald. After lunch, I started making Cream Potatoes
for our Christmas dinner. We each made our favorite dish from our
holidays with our families. So naturally, I made a huge thing of Cream
Potatoes :) we just finished them last night. Alex made sweet potato
casserole, Matt made HamburgerHelper, Kristina made spaghetti, Donald
made sausage and onions, Danielle made salad, Stephanie made stuffing,
and I made green bean casserole. Healthy, huh?? Here's what the line-up
looked like!! After dinner, we had a talent show. I read "'Twas the
Night Before Christmas" outloud to the group. Didn't really know what
else to do, so I read! Then after the talent show we opened Secret Santa
gifts and gifts that our parents had sent us. Our leaders had emailed
our families and asked them to send small gifts for us to open on
Christmas! It was so special and fun and surprising! I talked to my
family for an hour after our night of festivities. I miss my family :(
but I'm glad that Allan and Nicole are so close by!!
Sunday, we went to church at RockHarbor and met up with Donald's dad and sister. The first church we went to was actually cancelled (for Christmas, weird, right?) so we went to RockHarbor instead. After church, we went home and hung out at the house. Then we went to Donald's house for Korean Bar-B-Que! It was SOOOO yummy!! I don't know how to explain it, but it was super good. Then, his dad offered to pay for us to go to the movies, so we did! It was such a blessing! We saw Sherlock Holmes, and it was so good. I love those movies!
Monday, we started the day with worship, then went to Irvine Spectrum for some shopping and ministry. I got super sidetracked by the sales! But after shopping, Alex and I sat down at a table and began to pray over the shopping area. (P.S. it was a successful shopping trip, incase you were wondering, which I know you were). Tuesday, we had a guy from the Kona base, Sam and his brother Daniel, come to our apartment and pray for us and encourage us. Intimidation has no place in this team! We can change the world, we can talk to people and pray for people and share Jesus' love with them. Easily. Fear is gone! People here are approachable, I just have to approach them.... We went to Huntington Beach and Donald, Matt and I walked up and down the pier. I took pictures of surfers in the water. There was like 100 of them and the waves were amazing! I loved watching how skilled and coordinated someone has to be in order to surf and stay in the wave. I think I could watch surfers all day long.
Today, we had worship in the morning and then an hour of quiet time. I wrote 4 pages of just questions and basically conversation with the Lord. I'm seriously considering my next blog being those 4 pages. God just revealed Himself in such a different way today. Or things that I have been learning about in lecture really started to sink in and take hold of my heart. I have slipped into this blah feeling, I think because I'm scared to act on the things I've learned and embrace a new lifestyle, but I know that's not how God wants me to live. He wants me to be joyful and loving and serving and live a FUN life FILLED with Him. No being scared of being different! Change is good, especially this change that I've encountered. This afternoon we went back to Huntington to talk to people, but I had no luck :( I played volleyball with Danielle, Matt, and Donald and then we sat on the wall and told each other the gospel. And then we walked around, waiting for someone to talk to. Now, I'm here writing this blog post!!
How was y'all's Christmas? Please call or text or Facebook or skype me! I miss you all and would love to catch up with everyone!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
So outreach has started, ladies and gentlemen! Yay! One part of DTS down, one to go!
We arrived in Orange County on Thursday, December 22 at 5:00 am and we have been enjoying the cold ever since :) The first day we were here, I was wearing shorts and flip-flops and I was not complaining about being cold because I had forgotten what it's like to be cold. Really. I had. Hawaii had taken that feeling away. But now it's back. It's cold here in California. I sleep in socks, which is weird! Ok, so Thursday was filled with sleeping, moving into our house, eating In-N-Out, and seeing Allan and Nicole! I went shopping with Allan and Nicole, ate yummy tacos, and opened Christmas presents from them and my parents. It was so glorious to be around FAMILY! I always forget how much I love my family until I'm away from them for long periods of time. Friday was the 23rd of December and we had an 8 hour Burn, starting at 8 am and ending at 4 pm. This was a time filled with constant prayer and worship and boy did I learn a lot and hear a lot from the Lord. Starting outreach off with prayer makes such an impact! When you pray, you're plowing and asking God to do the hard work, so that when you are working (or sowing) it's easy. Prayer is so powerful!
 |
| This is Matt and I. It has been said of us that we are like brother and sister. |
 |
| Christmas dinner--outreach style |
Sunday, we went to church at RockHarbor and met up with Donald's dad and sister. The first church we went to was actually cancelled (for Christmas, weird, right?) so we went to RockHarbor instead. After church, we went home and hung out at the house. Then we went to Donald's house for Korean Bar-B-Que! It was SOOOO yummy!! I don't know how to explain it, but it was super good. Then, his dad offered to pay for us to go to the movies, so we did! It was such a blessing! We saw Sherlock Holmes, and it was so good. I love those movies!
Monday, we started the day with worship, then went to Irvine Spectrum for some shopping and ministry. I got super sidetracked by the sales! But after shopping, Alex and I sat down at a table and began to pray over the shopping area. (P.S. it was a successful shopping trip, incase you were wondering, which I know you were). Tuesday, we had a guy from the Kona base, Sam and his brother Daniel, come to our apartment and pray for us and encourage us. Intimidation has no place in this team! We can change the world, we can talk to people and pray for people and share Jesus' love with them. Easily. Fear is gone! People here are approachable, I just have to approach them.... We went to Huntington Beach and Donald, Matt and I walked up and down the pier. I took pictures of surfers in the water. There was like 100 of them and the waves were amazing! I loved watching how skilled and coordinated someone has to be in order to surf and stay in the wave. I think I could watch surfers all day long.
Today, we had worship in the morning and then an hour of quiet time. I wrote 4 pages of just questions and basically conversation with the Lord. I'm seriously considering my next blog being those 4 pages. God just revealed Himself in such a different way today. Or things that I have been learning about in lecture really started to sink in and take hold of my heart. I have slipped into this blah feeling, I think because I'm scared to act on the things I've learned and embrace a new lifestyle, but I know that's not how God wants me to live. He wants me to be joyful and loving and serving and live a FUN life FILLED with Him. No being scared of being different! Change is good, especially this change that I've encountered. This afternoon we went back to Huntington to talk to people, but I had no luck :( I played volleyball with Danielle, Matt, and Donald and then we sat on the wall and told each other the gospel. And then we walked around, waiting for someone to talk to. Now, I'm here writing this blog post!!
How was y'all's Christmas? Please call or text or Facebook or skype me! I miss you all and would love to catch up with everyone!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Sunday, December 11, 2011
All I Want for Christmas Is You
 | |
But luckily, there's a display and decorations that went up downtown BEFORE Thanksgiving, so it helps the atmosphere a little.
 |
| I can't get this to turn, I'm sorry :( just turn your head... |
 |
| My Gingerbread House |
 |
| Rachael's Gingerbread House. Amazing, right? |
 |
| Our street of houses :) |
Sidenote, if you like supporting homemade things and businesses, go to this site and explore some gift options. I really like this scarf and am debating on buying myself a Christmas present ;)
LOVE LOVE LOVE
These Boots Were Made for Walking
So this is were I spent 5 hours of my life one Saturday in November. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, to be exact. This is Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. I went with my roommates, Madisen, Amy, Melissa, and Rachael. We had such an adventure walking down the hill into the valley, hiking through the forest, walking through chest-high water, and climbing over HUGE rocks. Needless to say, I was slightly out of my element, and when I say slightly, I mean extremely out of my element. I was super nervous the whole time and was scared that a rock was going to come flying down and crush me. You hike through the forest to the waterfall, I didn't make it all the way to the waterfall (don't think to lowly of me) but here are some pictures from my roommate Rachael.
 |
| This is on the way to the waterfall and the girls were jumping over the water. I just walked through it in my Natives that my cousin gave me this summer :) Those shoes are amazing! |
I had such a thought-provoking time while on this little hike. I hate the outdoors. Seriously. I like the beauty of nature but I don't like climbing and going on adventures. Give me a mall and I'll be happy :) I also don't like being in unfamiliar surroundings. Waipi'o was unfamiliar. I was definitely pushed to some limits of not being comfortable. But it was good! I need to be stretched! I need to get out of my box and go out into nature and explore. Maybe my kids will drag me in to things and I'll have to get dirty and be OK with it. Maybe. I just need to be more free and flexible and FUN! Ok, I'll work on it.....Madisen, Melissa, and Rachael walked all the way to the waterfall, so these are Rachael and Melissa's pictures of the waterfall. I don't regret not finishing, but I learned a lesson. Don't hold back! Stay with the strong people and they will help you keep moving and growing and stretching. Are you growing and being stretched?
 |
| Well, you can't see it, but we went to Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo after a long day of hiking. Super amazing! Go here if you come to the Big Island! |
Hope you enjoyed a little taste of the beauty I've been experiencing!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Friday, December 9, 2011
Either You're Truly Scared or You've Come Prepared
Read that title again...
How often do you start a meeting, class, or day scared? Why not start each day and event prepared?! It's a feeling I want to get comfortable with, being prepared for life! I know I can expect the worse and pray for the best, but whatever situation happens, I can be mentally prepared for it instead of scared of it. How are you approaching life? Are you scared of it or are you ready and prepared for it?
This week, I realized I'm slightly scared of life, but I know whatever I'm going to be doing will make a difference in the world. This week our speakers, Paul and Susi Childers, were mainly talking about missions and with their stories of wanting to make a change, I was scared that I can't make a difference if I'm not a missionary. But I'm going to make a difference in the place and job that God puts me in, I have to remember that. Are you making a difference? Are you conforming to the environment you're in or are you changing the environment? Are you a beacon of God's light, or do you have your light hidden under a bushel? While I've been here, I've realized that I don't have to be apart of a mission organization, or even a "Christian" organization, to show God's love and change the world. I just have to live and love like Jesus did. When you start living like Jesus, that's when you create change (Paul said that in class Thursday).
Most of you aren't missionaries, you work or are in school, but you are creating a different culture in that setting? When I start working, I want to change the culture there, I want to create a positive atmosphere, one that only light can be seen, no darkness. God can change industries with your work, are you letting Him work through you? I've had these thoughts that hotel industry can't change and be a light for God, but in reality, it can! I don't know what that looks like, but God does! Christians aren't supposed to be suppressed, technically no one is supposed to be suppressed, but as Christians, we should set the standards! We should create the cultures at work. Are you conforming to the culture you work in? I'm challenging myself to be different :)
Don't be scared about the situations you face, be ready for them! Tackle them, with God's help, and show those around you how powerful and mighty He is. Like the Boy Scouts, be prepared!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
How often do you start a meeting, class, or day scared? Why not start each day and event prepared?! It's a feeling I want to get comfortable with, being prepared for life! I know I can expect the worse and pray for the best, but whatever situation happens, I can be mentally prepared for it instead of scared of it. How are you approaching life? Are you scared of it or are you ready and prepared for it?
This week, I realized I'm slightly scared of life, but I know whatever I'm going to be doing will make a difference in the world. This week our speakers, Paul and Susi Childers, were mainly talking about missions and with their stories of wanting to make a change, I was scared that I can't make a difference if I'm not a missionary. But I'm going to make a difference in the place and job that God puts me in, I have to remember that. Are you making a difference? Are you conforming to the environment you're in or are you changing the environment? Are you a beacon of God's light, or do you have your light hidden under a bushel? While I've been here, I've realized that I don't have to be apart of a mission organization, or even a "Christian" organization, to show God's love and change the world. I just have to live and love like Jesus did. When you start living like Jesus, that's when you create change (Paul said that in class Thursday).
Most of you aren't missionaries, you work or are in school, but you are creating a different culture in that setting? When I start working, I want to change the culture there, I want to create a positive atmosphere, one that only light can be seen, no darkness. God can change industries with your work, are you letting Him work through you? I've had these thoughts that hotel industry can't change and be a light for God, but in reality, it can! I don't know what that looks like, but God does! Christians aren't supposed to be suppressed, technically no one is supposed to be suppressed, but as Christians, we should set the standards! We should create the cultures at work. Are you conforming to the culture you work in? I'm challenging myself to be different :)
Don't be scared about the situations you face, be ready for them! Tackle them, with God's help, and show those around you how powerful and mighty He is. Like the Boy Scouts, be prepared!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)