Transition

As August is nearing an end and September is about to begin I find that I am excited to see what is coming. The leaves on many trees are going to gently begin to change as fall approaches. The smells in the air are also going to change with the evenings growing cooler and the days shorter. I'm excited to see what this will bring. I have found that I am beginning to really find peace in the midst of my transitions of life. My Creator is faithful to me and is giving me new insights everyday. Soon approaching is a day to remember all those we have loved both here and gone. I find it is also a time to enjoy the laughter and the songs that bring such joy.

The Creator also came and gave us insight into the transitions of life. He told us that we will always make it to the other side when we keep our eyes fixed upon Him. When we cross the bridges in life we see that others have helped make them and sometimes we are given the opportunity to help maintain and upgrade them. So my story will go on in the hearts of those who have known me and I also hope that it will continue on with those that I touch now. My heart is to see my leg of this race in life and pass the baton with excellence to the next leg of the race. To remain focused is a key for us to succeed. Again a transition from here to there!

Beauty Both In And Out

I was walking with Preacher and enjoying the beautiful weather. Listening to the birds and the rustling of the wind in the trees. Just thinking upon the beauty that surrounds me here in this place. As I was enjoying all of it I was struck by how many days in a row the sun has been shining here in a place that it is know to rain the majority of the time. The sun has shown itself with limited amounts of clouds blocking it for the entire week that I've been here. Wow, one whole week has gone bye and I'm on to week two. I have yet to find the exact place where God wants me to live, but my friends here are a blessing.

I've spoken with my mom almost everyday since I've been here, because it is very hard to move away from one of your best friends. I miss mom, dad, Pam, and my church at home, but I'm here on a mission. I am beginning to understand a little more about letting the beauty within me shine just as bright as the beauty on the outside. I am learning to express how the Lord feels about others through my own eyes and smile. Letting Him reach out through me to express His love for them in a way that will go deep into their spirit. I know that this is the place that God has for me at this very moment in my journey. I am excited to see what He has next for me to do in this place.

Desires

As I spent time reading some of my friends blogs, I was in the realization of some of the desires of my heart. Oh, that I might fulfill my destiny and run this race set before me. So I find myself also thinking about some of the if questions I think some of us face like: Who is the one God has chosen for me? When will I meet them and will I know? How long until that someone will walk into my life? Time isn't standing still what about kids? And there are many more questions and not a whole lot of answers ... yet. I trust that my awesome Creator will answer these and so many more. And I realize it's in His timing and not mine. I'm desperately seeking His face and in that process all my desires and questions will receive answers, so I must remain content right where I'm at. I want to encourage the young men and women to wait for the one He has chosen for you and ask you to remain faithful to your future spouse and family. Don't do things that will cause you to compromise! If I can do it so can you! Trust me there were days that were hard, but God was faithful to remind me that He has chosen someone just for me. I will continue my wait while running my race!

First Days

Okay, I haven't really had a lot of time these past few days to post anything, because I've been working! The first few days have been trying at times, pleasurable at others, and way too many names to memorize this quickly. I am exhausted at the end of my work day both physically and mentally. This is definitely not like my work I've done prior, although it does have a few similarities. As I'm working I've been praying and singing a little too just to put people at ease. This job is not for the faint at heart and that was proven today when I found out the person that I started with on Friday quit after the end of last night. I'm guessing it wasn't what she expected.

I have enjoyed a few of the little things as I'm smiled at and talked to whether I understand what they say or not, the eyes and smile always tell the truth. Some residents are fun and easy to please while others are a little more difficult, but I can tell you one thing is for sure ... love is what they soak up like a sponge. I feel that this job is going to be both challenging and rewarding. There will be days where I may want to give up and other days where I'll see miracles. (I believing for the later than the former.)

Preacher isn't so sure of the job I'm doing, because I get the smell test every time I get back. Probably because of all the different kinds of smells from residents to other animals along with cleansers and soaps. Anyway, he'll get use to it. I'm just excited to find out what is coming up next and what is God doing now. I'll continue to post as I get a chance! Blessings to all who read this blog.

Arrival

Yesterday I travelled for a little over five hours with all the delays on the passes it took a little longer than normal. I arrived in the evening and was greeted with warmth and a deeper understanding of what God is doing. My friends are amazing and I feel right now that I am here to just ignite and stir within them a fresh fire. God has been very faithful to them and to me. I will be continuing my search for an apartment from their beautiful home. The beauty of the Creator surrounds me with a sense of wonder. There is beautiful green grass and trees all around. Preacher has seemed to adjust pretty quickly to being able to run around their yard at all speeds. I am excited to find out more details about my new job and I will be setting that up today to hopefully start tomorrow one day early. Maybe I'll even go in today after I get a few other errands done.

This past weekend was a challenge because I was leaving my families. I know that God is good and He will allow me visits home again. I'm not sure when my first visit home will happen, but that's okay at least I have my blog, email, and phone to stay in touch. As I said goodbye to those whom I love and those who love me, I was reminded of how important it is that I remember that God is the one who shared with me His heart for those here. I look forward to sharing with everyone all that God is doing in the area. I'm so excited to see what is just around the corner. Continue to pray that I find the place here that I will call home for the price I can afford.

Search So Far

The time is quickly approaching and the war is on. I have been in Aberdeen searching for a place that allows me to bring my training partner (Preacher, dog). So far the search has been unsuccessful, but I trust in the Maker to show me the right place. I am blessed that some of my childhood family friends have allowed me to stay with them while I continue my search and start my new job. (Please continue the prayers!) As I found myself searching and spending time with my mom driving through the cities, I was touched deeply by the Makers love for His children. I am excited to plug in and walk in my destiny. While we were driving mom and I were listening to a little Rita Springer (Holy Visitation) and the words spoke so clearly that is what needs to take place there in order that the worship of Him will break loose the bondage that has tried to destroy so many lives. Again, I thank you all for your love and support. I will give updates here so that I can stay in touch with all those who have already captured my heart. Blessings.

Boxes

Okay, I have to laugh at myself a little about this process I am in. You see I like to be out of the box and not in it, so packing everything into boxes is quite hilarious. I find that God is speaking to me even while I am putting my worldly belongings into an amazing amount of boxes. As I was beginning to look around I had to laugh because some how over the past few years I have accumulated way too much stuff. As I was packing my c.d.'s and videos I had this picture of what was to come for me. My worldly stuff has now been put into boxes and I have allowed God out of the box (that I had put Him in). He is now officially in control and I have little to say about it, other than that I am willing and able to do all things through Him. No more boxes!

For those who don't know a lot about me there is a story I should share with you. When I was at the wonderful age of four, MY JESUS, came into my life and made all things new. I also made Him a very big promise. So here's how the story goes. Not long after I asked Jesus to come in, I was sitting in 'big peoples' church and Pastor Devin was talking about the offering basket that was going to be passed around and was talking about asking the Lord how much we should give. As a four year old I had a slightly different understanding of offering (money), you see I looked to Heaven and said, "But Lord I'm too big to fit in the offering basket!" Wow! What a concept for a four year old, so needless to say God is now requiring of me this very thing to give all of who I am to Him. Now after moving several times since the initial time of offering, God has come to call and is moving me back to the very area where I first made my promise to give Him all of me.

In less than two weeks I will be in the place that promises to be an adventure in Him. I look forward to both a challenge and a victory. I will however miss my church family here that have so inspired and taught me to grow. They have shown me what it is to overcome all obstacles in my way. So to The Bridge, I thank you all for loving me and teaching me the importance of reaching outside and learning to fly. To the awesome young people who challenged me on a regular basis to dig deeper and soar higher, I love you! To my friends I have no words but, thank you for believing in me. To Tom and Nadine, the two of you are inspirations and more than I could have hoped for in spiritual parents, truly I love you. Now before I begin to let the tears stream my face, I must return to the towering of boxes that are now mounting in my room. God bless each and everyone of you!

The End of the Wait

So, go figure I post earlier about waiting and the phone rings and I now am officially hired. This means the transition is happening. I'm excited and nervous so please continue to pray. God is faithful! The finances are coming into order so all I have left is the house. Oh, this at the same time brings me heart ache for I will be moving from an awesome church family and close friends. Well, I would blog more, but I now will have less time to do so because I must pack and be moved in less than two weeks. So, I will blog when I need a break from the rest of my mess!

The Waiting Game

It seems as though time stands still or slows to a snails pace when we are waiting to hear back about a job. I am in the transition right now and I'm doing my best to be patient all the while wondering is this the one or is there another. You could say that this is the situation of life, waiting for answers and trusting that they'll come. I should hear back very soon about one job and if that falls through I'm lined up for another interview early next week. I know that God is working and that He will provide just what I need. The issues that I have been facing have to do with finances and housing. Since I have only had odd jobs here and there for the past year and a half my debt has grown and this makes it tight when the pay offer has been lower than what I need, however I think that some money is better than none. I feel like the Lord is challenging me to rely on Him and to trust that He will come through and meet all my needs. Like my pastor said, "we're in a season of testing and how we respond to these tests will show us more of the amazing promises of God." It is important right now that I focus on the One who holds all of me in His hands. So for those who have been reading my blog thank you for your love and support and especially the prayers.

Life's Little Joys

Our adventures in life will take us in a variety of directions and gives us a lot of insight into the nature of the Creator. Spending time sitting on the beach can give us times of great reflection and courage to face all of life's challenges. This weekend was amazing in being able to reflect on the little joys of life, like the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, and the laughter of my best friend. As I sat watching the waves and the people it was awesome to see countless numbers of smiles and kites along with sand between my fingers falling and making a mound over my feet (free manicure & pedicure)! I was reminded that there are so many who need to have a sense of the love from their Creator and that I could help by just smiling and extending His love.

There is so much excitement and the possibility of a job is right there. I have had positive feedback so far and another phone interview tomorrow. I am just praying and seeking to see if this is the one that will ignite my transition to such a beautiful place as Grays Harbor County. Soon I will be there and will continue on this amazing journey that my Creator has me on. I don't have the words to describe all that is in my heart for the ones He loves, so I will just let myself explain it this way:

When I got home the love that was shown me from my dog said it all.

He was so excited to see me and to just be loved on

he wouldn't let me move even two feet from him.

This is the way that I want to be towards Him who chose me and

towards all those that He loves.

Treating each one as they should be treated, like royalty!

Honoring Him and them through my actions and not just my words!

Adventure Awaits

Well today is another day full of adventure and excitement. My best friend and I will be heading to the coast for a weekend trip. I am excited to see what awaits us on the coast of Washington (hopefully a job for me and a great birthday for her). I will let everyone know what the outcome of this weekend brings to me. I hope for a job that will meet my needs and that of my (soon to be) well trained dog. This weekend however he will stay at home with my parents and be spoiled rotten with extra treats, not that he needs them since he is officially 4 pounds over weight.

Anyway, the adventure begins in about five hours as we head west towards the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Each time I go there I find my heart not wanting to leave those who live there and at the same time wishing I could take all my beloved friends there when it is time for me to go. However, I do realize that it only takes 5 1/2 hours to get back and dry out for a weekend if and when necessary. (This I promise to do!)

Okay I feel blessed because in less than two weeks I will have been on both the Oregon Coast and now the Washington Coast. Oh the bliss of it all, listening to the waves as the crash upon the shore, a joy to behold the beauty of what the Creator has made. So I will leave all those who have found my blog with this a song from my heart to HIS ...

Behold the Bridegroom

My heart is overwhelmed by the sight of You

I have no words to describe my vision of You

O You take my breath away

All I see is the fire in Your eyes as You consume me

Your eyes of fire entrap me

As I stare I can see pools of refreshing

Just one glimpse changes my very structure

As I watch a tear drop fall

I see myself in Thee

Behold the bridegroom comes!

In the Rush Hour of Life

Today like so many days brings a fresh start to so many of us and yet a tragedy has taken place. My heart goes out to all the families and those involved in the bridge collapse in Minnesota. Although they have not figured out the cause I know that God will show Himself true and bring justice to those beautiful cities!

In what seems to be a dark hour I can see the light of the One who is bringing restoration and an igniting of both new and old flames of truth. Dreams that seem lost or dead are going to be birthed new again with more strength than before. If we are willing let our dreams of Him move and become the bridge for others to come to a relationship with the One who created them.

So, again my thoughts and prayers are with those who are in need in I time of sorrow for the lost and joy for those who are saved.

Not Too Far

My dog and I have been learning together what it takes to have great character. You see I will take him on a walk most of the time with a leash, because he is in training. Other times it is very important that I give him space to learn to have self-control so I'll lengthen his lead. The longer a walk we go on the better behaved he becomes and the more he listens to what I ask of him. He also seems more content to have me make the decisions about where and what we will do venturing only far enough to see what's up ahead then turning to find me.

I have found myself comparing my life to that of my dog in that the longer I walk with my Savior the the more I learn to recognize His voice and understand His movements. He is teaching me self-control by allowing me a longer leash, but I find I don't want to explore too far unless He leads me in that direction. Learning to trust in the One who holds my heart captive and understanding what He has done helps to build character in me. Though at times I pull on the end of my leash testing to see what He will do, He never fails to give correction when it is need. Lovingly He pulls me back to His side and reveals how much He truly does love me.

In the red...

Spoken and taught!

Multitudes listen and act upon the red.

Written and read!

Multitudes read and act upon the words in red.

The words in red are for the task at hand.

Are you willing to pay the price to see the red spread?

... His Words!