Yeah, I know the song is about the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of life, and about taking chances and all... and I can definitely relate with that in this period of my life.
But right now, I mean it literally. So much of my time these days is spent on the 10, the 110, the 405... It's all for a great reason- meeting up with people to share with them what all God is doing in the ministry and what all I'm excited about in going to Hawai'i (and getting to catch up with these people I rarely get to see!). So I'm not complaining- I love what I do. But take this week for example- already I have something like 330 miles of driving planned JUST with appointments in the next four days. Life is a highway.
The thing is, back when I was skating, I was driving a good 70 miles a day, most of which was during rush-hour traffic. And back then, I loved it! It was so easy for me to just sit in traffic, roll my windows down, feel the nice breeze, and just talk with God. Silence was golden- it was some of my best times with Him. I'm realizing now that I'm rather out of shape in spending quality time with God. I spend solid time in the Word and in prayer every day, but I guess I've forgotten a little bit how to just be with God. No bueno.
So I'm grateful for these opportunities to spend hours each day in my car, by myself, to remember again how to just enjoy the company of my Creator, my Savior, my Lord, my Father, my Friend. It might be a little bit awkward and uncomfortable at the beginning... but I know it's so worth it. HE's always been there wanting to hang out in deep, intimate fellowship. It's just me who hasn't been very present in our times together.
Relationships take work, right? Well, this is one relationship I'd be a fool not to invest in and work on. So bring on the long drives! Cuz really, driving the highway of life with God is one exciting and adventurous ride. Some parts are bumpy, some are long stretches of what looks like nothingness, and some parts have sharp, unexpected turns. But they're all SO good. Especially knowing the destination that the road is getting us to.
Life is a highway...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Starbucks is smart
I used to not go to Starbucks that much.
No longer the case. At all.
Here are the reasons why:
1) I'm working on support, which means that between appointments, I have a lot of emails, phone calls, logistics, letters, updates, etc to work on, and I'm just not as productive in my own home.
2) Starbucks now has a trick called "Treat Receipt," where, if you get a drink before 2pm, you come back in the afternoon with your "Treat Receipt" and can get any GRANDE drink for $2! UGH. I definitely wouldn't have gotten a 2nd drink in one day, like, ever. But for $2?
3) Starbucks now has free wi-fi for everyone. I'd used their wi-fi before with my Starbucks gift card but it was a pain that I had to make sure I'd used the card in the last month, and that the card was registered online. Now it's just free wi-fi for everyone. And I get a cheap drink (in the afternoon, after I've paid for a not-so-cheap drink in the morning)
4) I discovered their Caramel Light Frappuccino. It still tastes so good but less intense (which I like) and it's only 125 calories and 1g of fat for a Tall! Compare that to, say, a tall Java Chip Frappuccino (SO yum) with 255 calories and 7g of fat (5g saturated, as opposed to 0g saturated for the CLF)! Yeah, the Caramel Light Frappuccino is quite the find.
Ack.
No longer the case. At all.
Here are the reasons why:
1) I'm working on support, which means that between appointments, I have a lot of emails, phone calls, logistics, letters, updates, etc to work on, and I'm just not as productive in my own home.
2) Starbucks now has a trick called "Treat Receipt," where, if you get a drink before 2pm, you come back in the afternoon with your "Treat Receipt" and can get any GRANDE drink for $2! UGH. I definitely wouldn't have gotten a 2nd drink in one day, like, ever. But for $2?
3) Starbucks now has free wi-fi for everyone. I'd used their wi-fi before with my Starbucks gift card but it was a pain that I had to make sure I'd used the card in the last month, and that the card was registered online. Now it's just free wi-fi for everyone. And I get a cheap drink (in the afternoon, after I've paid for a not-so-cheap drink in the morning)
4) I discovered their Caramel Light Frappuccino. It still tastes so good but less intense (which I like) and it's only 125 calories and 1g of fat for a Tall! Compare that to, say, a tall Java Chip Frappuccino (SO yum) with 255 calories and 7g of fat (5g saturated, as opposed to 0g saturated for the CLF)! Yeah, the Caramel Light Frappuccino is quite the find.
Ack.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Back to School
Nick (guy I used to disciple at USC- now a senior on Shepherd Team) called me the other day, asking a question about some beginning-of-the-year stuff that USC Cru does, because he was working on some planning with Casey (USC class of '09, now on staff). Then on Saturday, I was texting with Jared (another guy I used to disciple at USC- now a senior on Lead Team) when I realized that he was at the Lead Team overnighter when all the student leaders at USC get together with the staff to go through some vision casting, planning, on final logistics before the Fall starts.
And it hit me- I'm not there.
The beginning of the school year at USC is something I've been a part of since 2004, and now, for the first time in years, I didn't even know that stuff was going on until someone told me as it was going on. It feels WEIRD.
On Tuesday, Shaun (director at UH) called me and was just telling me about how their team was going into Fall planning as well, and was asking for prayer as he begins leading the staff team that day and then the students, as classes are about to start on Monday (tomorrow). It made me want to be there so much!
Ministry partner development is an awesome time of trusting God and getting to have really encouraging times with friends and family, getting to tell them about the ministry. But at the same time, it is hard not being on campus when I know that ministry is already going on- on both the campus that I've been at for the past 6 years, and on the one I will be at for the next few.
It's ok. God has a plan for me during this time too, and I'm excited to see what happens :)
And it hit me- I'm not there.
The beginning of the school year at USC is something I've been a part of since 2004, and now, for the first time in years, I didn't even know that stuff was going on until someone told me as it was going on. It feels WEIRD.
On Tuesday, Shaun (director at UH) called me and was just telling me about how their team was going into Fall planning as well, and was asking for prayer as he begins leading the staff team that day and then the students, as classes are about to start on Monday (tomorrow). It made me want to be there so much!
Ministry partner development is an awesome time of trusting God and getting to have really encouraging times with friends and family, getting to tell them about the ministry. But at the same time, it is hard not being on campus when I know that ministry is already going on- on both the campus that I've been at for the past 6 years, and on the one I will be at for the next few.
It's ok. God has a plan for me during this time too, and I'm excited to see what happens :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Miss the blessing
My friend Mitch from Tennessee just texted me the other day with a line from a Charles Spurgeon devotional. Here is the paragraph, with the line he texted me in italics:
Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.
Satan's such a dirty worm. And how appropriate is this warning for those of us who are trusting God for provision right now?? Thanks, Mitch, for the text. But even more, praise God that this warning comes with comforting encouragement- the reminder that, as members of God's family and Kingdom, we WILL (not "might") have victory over the enemy! YEAH! Let's not miss the blessing, eh?
Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.
Satan's such a dirty worm. And how appropriate is this warning for those of us who are trusting God for provision right now?? Thanks, Mitch, for the text. But even more, praise God that this warning comes with comforting encouragement- the reminder that, as members of God's family and Kingdom, we WILL (not "might") have victory over the enemy! YEAH! Let's not miss the blessing, eh?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Not alone
Support raising can be such a lonely time. I absolutely love meeting with people and getting to hear about their lives and getting to share some of my vision for the ministry with them. But in-between those meetings is hours, sometimes days, of very little human interaction. It's a lot of administrative work, and a lot of time with self to think about things. In the midst of this not-so-easy season of ministry though, I have to remember that I am NOT alone... at all.
First, God is with me! He promised that He will never leave me- that He would always be with me, even unto the end of the age. He dwells inside of me and is my constant Companion.
Second, God blesses me with community! He's given me brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me whenever I get to spend time with them, and He's provided ~115 other new staff all around the country who are going through the exact same thing I'm experiencing right now! How comforting to know that what I'm going through is being shared by others all around the world. Last night, I got to have a mini-reunion with 6 of the 8 who joined staff this summer from the Pacific Southwest Region (CA,HI, AZ, Las Vegas). It was SUCH a refreshing and fun time of just catching up and encouraging each other. Thank You, Lord, for times like that to remind me of how not alone I am.
L to R (Alma mater, assignment):
Casey Patrick (USC, Cal Poly SLO), Christina Carey (USC, Melbourne, Australia), Chris Bernetich (CSULB, Regional Office), Courtney Sterk (Cal Poly SLO, UCSD&SDSU), Jeff Pauls (UCSB, Middle East), Me (USC, UH)
First, God is with me! He promised that He will never leave me- that He would always be with me, even unto the end of the age. He dwells inside of me and is my constant Companion.
Second, God blesses me with community! He's given me brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me whenever I get to spend time with them, and He's provided ~115 other new staff all around the country who are going through the exact same thing I'm experiencing right now! How comforting to know that what I'm going through is being shared by others all around the world. Last night, I got to have a mini-reunion with 6 of the 8 who joined staff this summer from the Pacific Southwest Region (CA,HI, AZ, Las Vegas). It was SUCH a refreshing and fun time of just catching up and encouraging each other. Thank You, Lord, for times like that to remind me of how not alone I am.
L to R (Alma mater, assignment):
Casey Patrick (USC, Cal Poly SLO), Christina Carey (USC, Melbourne, Australia), Chris Bernetich (CSULB, Regional Office), Courtney Sterk (Cal Poly SLO, UCSD&SDSU), Jeff Pauls (UCSB, Middle East), Me (USC, UH)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)