in the waiting

Monday, September 22, 2014

Motivation Monday- Purpose

Have you ever wondered what is YOUR purpose here on earth?

Why You exist?

Why you were made?

PURPOSE : "the reason for which something exists or is done, made, or used."

I always knew that life is more the basketball, family, friends, my career

I knew that I God has called us to serve and love

I knew God has a purpose and a plan

It says in the bible "For I know the plans I have for you.." Jer. 29:11

But I had a hard time finding that plan for me

I had a hard time finding something I was passionate about

Seriously, I was lost

How do I find my purpose?

Fast forward 29 years, and lots of praying, self discovering, heart break, tears, anger and frustration and I am just now grasping that my purpose here on earth is not about me

Let me say that again, THIS LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME

It is not about my family or friends

It is not about my career or even my wildest dreams or ambitions

(And I have BIG DREAMS!)

If you want to know why you were placed on this planet

you must begin with God

You and I were born by His purpose and for His purpose

"You were made by God and for God-and until you understand that, life will never make sense

It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny"

-Rick Warren

Focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose

When we start looking outside ourselves

When we start living our life serving God by loving others

That is when we find our purpose

The easiest way for me to discover my purpose is to ASK GOD

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

This consisted of A LOT of praying for me

Praying for God to help me with my selfishness

Praying for God to show me how HE wants to use me

Praying that HE would guide me in the right direction

Praying that HE would provide opportunities for me to serve

Praying for HIM to fire a passion in my heart

Last January 2012 and my roommate and I were talking about life

We both were in a rut in our careers and both felt we wanted more from life

This was the beginning of God tugging at my heart

This was when I knew I was created for more

My roommates mentor from high school sent her the prayer of Jabez that night:

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil." 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

I thought it couldn't hurt so I started praying that prayer everyday

Then that spring 2012 came

I was still in Seattle at this point working my athletics job at SPU

I had been looking for ways for our athletes could get more involved in the community

I was searching for random charities and events that the SPU athletes could get involved with

I didn't even think about myself serving with them

God had another idea...

I dont know why

I don't remember how

But those charities were placed on my heart

I needed to contact them, so I did

I felt like my heart was going to burst with excitement

With purpose

With anxiety

With fear

All rolled into one!

That was the year I found one of my passions

I am head over heels in love with dedicating my life to helping children with pediatric cancer and illness

I know now that St. Jude and Make-A-Wish had been charities that were placed on my heart for a reason back in 2012 and that was just the beginning

With Gods help I was able to get involved in Seattle

St. Jude "Up ti Dawn" fundraiser

St. Jude Half marathon in Nashville

NEGU 5k in Cali

I long to help

I long to provide

I long to serve

I am sure of it

You know those pictures of famous people going into children's hospitals or fulfilling a wish?

They can instantly make a child smile

I dream of having that ability one day being able to make children smile instantly

Smiles of JOY

Feelings of HOPE

Sense of LOVE

Sharing FAITH

Can you imagine having that ability?!

But right now I am doing my best to follow what God has placed in front of me, with the resources He has given me, and of course the passion He has placed in my heart

So whether I am organizing a toy drive, running a race, climbing stairs, organizing fundraisers

Whether I am in Seattle, ARIZONA or AFRICA

I desire to spread more faith, hope, love and joy to those children who are in need

Is this my only purpose for my life?

I have other deep passions and big dreams

But what I do know God set my heart on fire two years ago for children

His children who are in need of HOPE

He broke my heart for what breaks His

I am going to continue to ask God to show me

Use me for His Glory

AND guess what month is Childhood Cancer Awareness month?

September!

Which happens to be my birthday month

Coincidence?

Maybe another way God is reassuring me :)

Jessie Rees Foundation

St. Jude Up til Dawn

Make-A-Wish

"Blogger in progress"

I am a "blogger in progress"

I had planned on on blogging about five things about my week on Friday

I also had this grand plan on blogging every Monday, Wednesday, Friday

That has not happened

However, this morning I woke up to major rain in Arizona

I mean like record breaking rain fall

Schools cancelled, business closed

It is quite amusing to me, being from Seattle, that rain was the issue shutting down the city

But I also know that Arizona isn't as equipped as Seattle is to handle all the downfall

Nonetheless, the news told us to stay inside

I couldnt resist a cuddling up with the sound of rain pouring down

It finally felt like a fall day and I truly felt at home

So I decided to blog!

Here is my Five on ~~Friday.~~..or Monday

1) Seattle Seahawks Thursday Night Football

Can you say Superbowl bound... AGAIN!

I absolutely love my Seahawks and it was so fun to watch them even from Arizona

2) It is fall!

Well, almost

Technically the first day of fall isnt until later this month

And it is 90 degrees outside

But nothing will stop me some putting up some decorations

And light some yummy candles

HERE is a fall post I wrote last year that shows the beauty of fall in Seattle

And another one HERE referencing His Grace and fall

3) Will you be my bridesmaid?

One of my oldest and most cherished friends is getting married next July

She ask her bridesmaids in the most adorable way!

I am so honored and excited to be a part of her big day

Thank you Lisa!

4) Answered prayers

Do you ever feel like your prayers are not being heard?

I have been feeling like that lately

You see, I have BIG dreams and prayers that seem impossible

I know God is working on my behalf to answer those

Arizona was an answered prayer and stepping closer to those

But there is one prayer that I have been circling for almost three years now

Somedays are easier than others to keep the faith and hope

These Bible verses came at exactly the right time

Isn't that always how God works?

He reminded me that He hears every prayer

Every cry out, every praise

"For every one prayer, the Lord is working out 10,000 things on our behalf to make it happen"

- Christine Caine

He hears

He knows

He will answer

5) Dreaming of Africa

Something about maps and the world makes my heart giddy

My trip to Ethiopia only ignited my passion

I hope that my life will forever be a life of giving and serving

Excited to see where I can go next

Faith Journey Challenge

Pursued

Prayer

I was challenged to describe my faith journey and how Jesus has impacted my life...

...on video

Two challenges came to mind:

1) I dont do videos

I love taking pictures and writing but I have never filmed myself
I dont know if it is just me but I dont like hearing the sound of my voice
Do I REALLY sound like that?!
Well, we all have to step out of out comfort zone
Something I have become comfortable with lately
And you know what??
When I finished I realized it was not as bad as I thought it would be
Isnt that like everything we do?
We over exaggerated so much in our minds and it seems to always be ok in the end

2) I could chose 7647864776234 words that describe how Jesus has impacted my life

For those who know me, they know what a journey I have been on
The past three years the Lord has taken me on one crazy adventure
Calling me out of my comfort and into one uncomfortable situation after another

Leaving SPU
Africa
Moving to Arizona

So, while I am still on an incredible journey, I am learning more about Gods goodness
Learning that the Lord is still pursuing me
Learning He will finish what He started calling me to Arizona
I am learning the best is yet to come on this adventure

More words that could describe my faith journey:
Dreams
Faithful
Grace
Adventure filled
Loving
Good
Powerful
Promise
Merciful
Compassionate
Better than imagined
Living Word

What are two words that describe your faith journey or how Jesus has impacted your life?
(Don't worry, I wont make you do a video)

A New Confidence

I am sitting here tonight with my mom by my side

We have a football game on and peaches on the BBQ for desert

Something about having your mom right next to you to feel at home

It has been over a month living in Arizona

I would say that it has been a hard transition

And that I am having a hard time in the heat

Or I am not making any friends or connections

But honestly, thats not true

The last month has been one big adventure

Stepping out into my comfort zone has been my normal lately

Talking to strangers in the grocery line

Sharing my story with the woman next to me at church

Joining a women's bible study the first day of church

Going places by myself has become something I am getting used too

A new confidence

A new bravery

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Cor. 5:17

This doesn't mean that I don't struggle

I miss my family

I miss the comfort of a roommate

I miss the financial security of a full time job

In fact, nighttime has become a battle ground for loneliness

I wonder what I am doing down here

I question the purpose of this move

I doubt God could possibly answer my deepest prayers

I question why they haven't been fulfilled yet

I find myself talking to myself a lot at night

I am either praying or yelling

I havent figured out what exactly I am doing

I yell

I cry out in frustration

If my neighbors heard me that would think I am crazy

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:23

Then the morning comes

A new day comes

I pray, read and meditate- the only thing that gets me through a day

Holding onto His promises and His Word

Being confident of this,

that he who began a good work in you will carry

it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil. 1:6

I remember that every single day, we are a work in progress

He promised not just to lead me but fulfill

He promised not to just lead but provide

He will finish

God requires our obedience before our understanding -Christine Caine

And I remember clearly

This Arizona journey is an act of obedience

I think back and I am uninterested

I know my future is better

Obedience is scary

It is unknown

But it is required

And You whisper, "Look ahead with joy... everything’s going to work out.

I promise it's all working out for good...Look to Me"

Isa:65:17, Ps20:6, Ro.8:28, Matt10:38MSG

And You are up ahead!
"There are far better things ahead -- than any we leave behind."
The best is never behind us; You save the *best* for up ahead -- You!
and the end will be the *best*... and it will only be the *beginning*.

- Ann Voskamp

So it might take some more days, weeks or months before I really understand

But I will continue to trust

Continue to walk in faith

And continue to be obedient, in hopeful expectation,

With the understanding I don't have to understand His ways

But I can be hopeful and remember that the best is yet to come

First Guest Post!

Hey guys! I am so excited for my first guest post for Hudson and Emily!

So much has happened in the last two months of my life

I went from leaving my job of 6 years in Seattle, which has been my home for 28 years,

to traveling to Ethiopia and then God just threw in moving to Phoenix!

My mom always said God has a sense of humor and I am finding that out everyday day

I am also discovering just how good and faithful God is every single day

________________________

As I wake up everyday in Arizona, I still cant believe where life has taken me

This is my short story how my one “YES” to AdvoCare changed my life..

Read the rest of the post HERE

Family That Plays Together...Stays Together

"But as for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15

Before I left to Arizona we had a small get together with our family

There was nothing I wanted to do more before I left then spend sometime with family

Of course most these pictures are of Jace and Hudson- my most adorable nephews

ok mostly Jace but Hudson was sleeping half the time

What can I say, I am a proud auntie!

Baby Hudson and my brother in law Kevin

Oh hey blue eyes!

Ohhh that red little face gets me every time!

I made this sign last year for my place but I could not take it to Arizona so my mom put it outside by the garden

Selfie with my little buddy

Cant handle this cuteness!

Gramps and cousin- My grandpa said if he was younger he would come live with me. So sweet!

Jace, Sister Beth, aunte Jan, cousin Rylee

My brother Chris keepin' it simple

sister selfie with Hudson just chillin'

Brother Chris, Jace- yes he is picking his nose, sister Beth, me, brother-in-law Kevin, and baby Hudson

My family is one of my biggest blessings

Relearning to Trust

It has been over a week I have called Arizona my home

One week since I moved out of my place of comfort

One week since I said goodbye to my family

One week since we drove 22 hours to my new home

"See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert..."

Isaiah 43:19

The past couple days I have experienced weather I have never seen

Lightening storms that take up the whole sky

Thunder that shakes the house

Sandstorms that blow over an entire city

I sit outside in 100 degree weather and I don't want to rush inside

I want to feel the heat

I want to hear the gentle winds blowing and see clouds darkening

A storm must be coming in

Surprisingly, I feel at home

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,

I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 33:8

Why am I so "surprised" that I feel at home?

I knew this move was coming

I knew it was coming a year ago, I just didn't know where

The Lord prepared me for this change

He took the year to teach me, mold me, transform me and my heart for this

He has provided a heart that is at peace regardless of not having a job

He has provided a heart that is calm regardless of not knowing where I will live

He has provided a heart that finds beauty in the heat, the desert and hills

He has provided a heart that is brave to seek out new friends

He has provided a confidence to attend a new church by myself s

He has provided

The Lord has provided many doors for me down here

However, the most challenging part right now is relearning to trust Him

See, my life was easy in Seattle

I had my friends close

I had my family closer

I had a steady job

I knew where I would be living

Right now, I have none of that

I have no other choice but to TRUST Him

Trust Him when the future looks unknown

Trust Him to provide... even the smallest details

Trust Him He will keep His promises

My Grace is sufficient for you - 2 Cor. 12:9

God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear- 1 Cor. 10:13

He gives VICTORY- 1 Cor. 10:57

He works everything for the good for those who love Him- Romans 8:28

The peace which transcends all understanding- Phil. 4:7

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give the desires of your heart- Psalm 37:4

The Lord has reminded me that my perspective on this new chapter needs to be bigger and broader

I am not down here to create a new comfortable and convenient life

I am here because the Lord has a plan for me here

He has placed dreams and visions in me that seem overwhelming and terrifying

But I will keep moving forward because trusting Him is all I can do

I will keep moving forward because I know when we go through a storm, being uncomfortable, a change or tough situation, we are met with divine purpose at the end

I am trusting Him that this small act of obedience will open up big doors to my divine purpose

If you are faithful in little things,

you will be faithful in large ones

Luke 16:10

So, how am I doing?

Really well

I am finding my own life down here in the desert

I am finding beauty in the heat, desert, mountains and hills

I found a gym I love and already have a few workout pals

I have loved driving and discovering new places around Phoenix
I am meeting up with new connections and friends

I have found a church I love to worship at and hope to get involved

It only has been a week but feels like more