in the waiting

Monday, September 16, 2013

Fall is Here!

A dark, damp morning, hot Spark and the smell of cider candle
First morning that actually felt like fall

There is something about the season of fall that cant be beat in Seattle

The smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider candles

The beautiful colors of the changing leaves

The sound of the falling rain

Oh, and footbball!

Lots and lots of football

Sept. 15th Seahaws vs. 49er's
The game was delayed an hour because of lightening
but that didnt stop them from destroying the 49ers:)
#roadtoNY

There is something about fall that is soothing

Maybe it is getting back into routine after the long, chaotic days of summer

Maybe the sound of hearing rain come down outside your window

Maybe the smell of a pumpkin spice candle burning

Or finding your new favorite fall TV show

How is the fall season soothing to you?

We started the season off with an athlete BBQ
Creating new friendships through fellowship and food!

You know what else I find exciting about fall?

The new season of Seattle Pacific Athletics

New athletes

New coaches

New opportunity to achieve their dreams of becoming the best in their sport

National Champions

I love my job for many reasons, but one of my favorites are the relationships with the athletes

I love seeing them develop into better athletes and better people for their community

This upcoming season represents more than a new schedule of games to be played

It is a new season to deepen and develop their character, integrity and humility through the ups and downs, through the loses, wins and ties

Through their relationships with other athletes, their teammates and coaches

The opportunity to stretch themselves beyond limits they didnt know possible

Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually

To live life beyond their comfort zone

And you know the best part?!

God has given me the privilege to be a part of all that

To be a part of their triumphs and failures

On and off the playing field

Now, I know that I may not personally touch every young life that walks through SPU

To some I might always just be "that Event Manager"

But you better believe I am going to strive to make a difference in every one of them

Someone who can be looked at as setting an example in leadership, humility and service to others

Someone who is an example in sharing my faith through my actions and words

Someone they can look too for guidance

Someone who understands them

Will I fail sometimes?

Will I miss some opportunities?

Will I doubt myself?

Yes I will

But I also know that the Lord has placed me here for a reason

I know the Lord is giving me this platform and this passion to serve Him

Yes, it started raining but that is ok, the athletes decided to play Catch Phrase!

Dear Lord,

I know I am here for a reason

Thank you for giving me this platform to make a difference

Thank you for the opportunity to live a life of significance

Lead me Lord to the ones that need my encouragement, guidance and service

Help me to live my life with your hand always leading me

Direct my words be kind and instructive, and always with love

Continue to bless me here at SPU and expand my territory in ways I never imagined

Place Your hand upon me as I venture out in this new season of athletices and life

In your name I pray.

Amen

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Lots to Celebrate

You know the saying "blessed beyond belief"

Well...I am

Today is my "offical" first day of year 28 for me

I find it humerous when I look back how I thought my life would turn out

By 28, I was going to be married, three children, a house with white picket fence

....and a dog (golden retriever people)

I had it all figured out

Oh, how that is far from my life right now

However, my life is better than that dream I had when I was 16

I have a ~~husband, children, or house~~, NONE of those

But I know what I do have

Constant Joy for my life and the Lord

Peace that I am exactly where I need to be

Hope, eventually, in His time, I will receive all those things

My birthday might not have been spent going out to dinner with my husband

Or playing with my children and dog outside my house

But you know what, I spent my birthday doing exactly what I LOVE

I spent my birthday watching amazing student-athletes play the game they love

I got to spend my birthday working along side my passionate student workers

Last night was more than just another soccer game

We spent the evening laughing, catching up, sharing stories

Creating memories of fellowship, mentorship and true friendships

And let me tell you there was also no shortage of LOVE throughout the day

With Facebook, text messages, phone calls, cards and a special lunch

I was one very blessed birthday girl

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In addition to my birthday, there are many reasons why I LOVE September

The weather around here can not be beat

Seahawks- enough said there

The Washington State Fair

Fall is in the air

But the greatest reason of all is that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

This is been another path that I did not see coming but thank the Lord everyday for this passion

I pray that one day a cure will be found

In the meantime, I pray that God will use me in the most unimaginable ways

Help raise awareness to childhood cancer

Help raise funds and financial support

Help bring faith, hope and love to children and families

Jessie Rees Foundation
St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital
These are just two amazing charities doing amazing things that I have a strong passion for

God has given me the opportunity to be more

Everyday He gives me that platform to live a life of significance

I went to bed last night overwelmed by the blessings He has given me the past 28 years

Blessed that He has chosen this path for my life

Hopeful, that the next 28 years will be even more beautiful and thrilling

Live Out Your Calling

I have always been a dreamer, well maybe more of a hopeless romantic

A year ago I could not have told you what dreams I had

Yes, there those dreams of getting married and having a family

But I never found myself having real specific dreams

However, this past year the Lord has placed dreams on my heart that I never saw coming

It has been one whirlwind of an adventure to fulfill some of those and then to dream some more

This past year I have also felt more doubt then ever before

I fall into Satan's trap of thinking I am not good enough to have dreams

I am too foolish

They are too big

They cant be accomplished

It is just Satan's way of attacking us in our most vulnerable state

Satan knows when we start dreaming, we get dangerous

We gain hope and confidence!

We discover just how powerful we can be when we are filled with the spirit to fulfill those dreams!

Our true calling, our purpose for His kingdom

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I would like to share those dreams

Almost all of them are dreams that have come into my heart just this past year

God is doing amazing things in my heart

He is transforming it exactly for Him

For His kingdom

The Lord has placed these dreams on my heart for a reason

He promises to fulfill those desires of our hearts

Beautiful and exhilarating

I dream to travel to Africa and shine the light and love of Christ on many children

I dream to travel to every major cities Children's Hospital and pass out Joy Jars

I dream to have a platform that allows me to go into hospitals and spread faith hope and love.

I dream to be baptized in the Jordan River with my husband, Beth and kevin

I dream to be debt free in two years

I dream to have a marriage that has a ministry and platform to share the gospel

I dream to travel the world with my husband

I dream to have a family and raise my children to know Christ and be an example of His love

I dream to travel the nation and run races for charity

I dream of helping young women who have walked along the same path as me

I dream of having a marriage that serves others and is a godly example to others

I dream of marrying the man God created for me in front of all my friends and family

Adventures of the Heart

You and I were made for a great adventure —That’s no accident.

God made us to long for adventure — His adventure.

God calls all believers to join Him in a rescue mission,

“to seek and save the lost”

(Luke 19:10) and complete the Great Commission.

One of my amazing students asked me to help at her wedding

They flew me down to San Diego to be the wedding coordinator

I have never been an official coordinator but I have been blessed too be in a lot of weddings to know the logistics of wedding ceremonies, receptions, traditions and decorations

I have always dreamed of being a wedding planner

Maybe not for a career but helping friends or family when I could

I love weddings

Just to be around the giddy bride on her special day

To see the nervousness of the groom

The excitement of the festivities

The cake and flowers...oh the flowers!

Everything about them make me smile

If I could make a living being a professional wedding crasher count me in!

This weekend was one of the most physically, emotionally

and mentally exhausting weekends of my life

But also the most amazing experiences I have ever done

As I was driving through San Diego Monday morning to meet my friend

The wedding was Sunday and I had most Monday off before I flew out

I pulled up into a random Starbucks in San Diego- my happy place :)

I was thinking of what an amazing experience that whole weekend had been

Thinking about how I never imagined I would be in San Diego to coordinate a wedding

Thinking about the most exhausting weekend I just had, yet I was filled with so much Joy and Rest

Thinking about the adventure of the weekend, the people I have met and the places I went

I pulled out my Jesus Calling devotional to Sept. 2nd

How true it is when we surrender our lives to the Lord

When we believe the Lords His plans are better than ours

When we let Him lead us through this life

He takes us on adventures and journeys we never could imagine

God has opened my heart to seek Adventure with Him

I wake up with expectation that God will provide that longing in my heart

And He has so far

Through people I have met

The places I have gone

The opportunities and doors that have been opened

He has shown me through, big and small blessings, that providing adventure is His who He is

Contrary to popular belief, we do not have a boring God you guys!

Adventure is what awaits us when we allow God to move within us

To let go and let Him lead

I have no doubt God is preparing many more adventures for me

Ones that seems crazy even thinking about

But we have a big God

And I believe He will provide those desires of our hearts

The adventures of our hearts, even ones we never knew we had

To some this weekend might have been just an exhausting trip to San Diego for a wedding

But to me...oh, what an amazing adventure

When you depend on Me continually your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and "coincidences." You begin each day with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. you accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing that your plans tentative, knowing that My plans are far superior. You consciously live, more and have your being in Me, desiring that I live in you. I in you, and yo in Me.

This is the intimate adventure I offer you.

Love,

Jesus

Time spent with your best friend is never wasted
We both drove over an hour each each to meet for lunch
True friends!

What I am Loving Wednesday

So yes today is Wednesday which means my sporadic WILW post

What I am Loving Wednesday

Thankfully, there is a lot I am loving today!

My sister Beth, brother Chris, nephew Jace and niece Sammy

My brother's little girl and mother are up this week and spending a couple days in Enumclaw

It is Sammy's (2 1/2 years old) first time meeting Jace and first time up here

They have been having non stop fun going to the zoo and aquairium

I have been at work and unable to go but been going down in the evenings for dinner

Loving my results with AdvoCare products

and starting another 24 Day Challenge after Labor Day!

I love helping people!

Tina's first day helping me get organized- the right is my inspiration wall :)

Just when I think God couldnt be more amazing

He surprises me with answering a request I didnt even bring to Him.

I was getting a little overwhelmed with some duties at work and wanting to hire a student to help me I decided to hold off on an email one morning until after I met with one of my student workers, Tina.

Not knowing why she wanted to meet up, she told me later into our conversation that she is very interested in working athletics and asked if she could job shadow me.

Job shadow!? Are you kidding me, I want you to work for me!

PRAYER ANSWERED

This is exactly why I have a passion to help childen

Lord, give me a platform to serve and help Your children.

Give me direction and discernment on what doors You are opening

Give me Hope and contenment with Your ways and plan

Loving this quote

Wherever You lead me- sigh

Enough said

And I am starting my first ever Fantasty Football league tonight!

Lastly, I am LOVING the excitement for fall

My absolute favorite season for many reasons

Thankful to live in a city with four seasons

I Like Myself- Say it with me

No Matter how often I fail, I will not give up,
because God is with me to strengthen
and sustain me. He has promised
to never leave me or forsake me.

Hebews 13:5

I like myself.

I dont like everything I do, and I want to change
But I refuse to reject myself

I am right with God through Jesus Christ

God has a good plan for my life.
I am going to fulfill my destiny
and be all I can be for His glory
I have god-given gifts and talents,
and I intended to use them to help others

I am nothing, and yet I am everything
I myself I am nothing, and yet in Jesus Christ
I am eveything I need to be

I can do all things I need to do,
everything God calls me to do,
through His son jesus Christ
Philippians 4:13

When Life Seems Too Much

Do you ever have one of those ~~days~~ weeks where the world
seems to be crashing down on you?

Almost crushing

I have had my fair share of those
Especially this week

Something that seemed comfortable and stable wasn't anymore

What I thought I could handle on my own

What I thought I was strong enough
I ended up being bulled over

I am so weak

But you know what is so amazing?
God isnt weak
God doesnt want us to be weak either

God showed up in a moment of complete weakness last night

I was folding laundry in my room, listening to the radio
A usual weeknight for me...come join the fun:)

My mind racing
What was going on in my comfortable, stable life?
I was drowning in anxiety and loneliness

Then a song came over the radio with the lyrics

"God is enough for me. He is everything I need."

It only took an instant for me to realize that
this was God comforting me

I fell to my knees and cried

Tears of exhaustion
Tears of thankfulness
In the midst of my weakness God found me, comforted me and gave me peace

Many times I think we try too hard to rescue ourselves
"I can do this on my own. I don't need help."
We internalize our pain and think we are strong to overcome it
We try to hard to be strong because that is what the world tells us
When really it is quite simple

We are human = we are weak
He is God= He is strong
He is our strength

He is enough
...His grace, His love, His mercy and forgiveness
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But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Asking an all-loving God, who asks nothing from us,
wants to be our strength, wants to give us peace, is a lot less stressful
than looking to a world that will only drain us of our strength