Saturday, March 10, 2012
Amidst Chaos, There is Joy and Peace
This past month at work has been chaos, but among of it all, I have sought after God tons. His strength and love has brought me so much joy in Him and peace when I really needed it. It can be easy to be tipped off when you have many girls talking at you all at once, but I'm here for God and He wants me here. To be honest, I have spent more time talking with Him here than I ever have. His peace has overwhelmed my soul and I am so thankful. I am truly understanding how Philippians 4:13 is being displayed before me. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Monday, February 13, 2012
Radical Experiment Update
I mentioned in my Prayer and Praise page that I started the Radical Experiment. It's been nearly a month now and I'm doing well. Reading the Bible part is going really well, the praying could be better, investing is going steady, connecting with the church is still going, and the involvement outside of my comfort or cultural context is kinda alongside with my line of work. Those five things are out of order and really prayer should be exceeding all others because my relationship with Jesus will cause my heart, mind, soul and strength to discern my actions, thoughts, and decisions in anything and everything I do.
The Bible reading plan I'm using is the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan. I picked it mainly because I'll be reading four books simultaneously. I have no desire to hurry and finish the Bible in less than a year, but after reading the beginnings of the Old Testament, I may just as well. I have not read all of the Old Testament and the books that I have read, I did not really retain as much. But now, I am so enthralled by it that I couldn't stop reading AND I'm retaining most of what I read. Though, when I got to Leviticus, I have to confess I slowed downed a bit, with all its regulations for offerings, the priests and the people. But reading through all of that makes me appreciate of how things are versus how things were. We really do have freedom through Jesus in many ways to be saved. There is no more need of sacrifices brought to priests on our behalf; the freedom we have is to talk to God directly.
As far as connecting with a local church, I've been attending a church called The Stirring for about a month. It's been wonderful and really God bringing things together. The first time ever that I went to The Stirring was at their Sunday night service. At the end of the service, they had the prayer team come to the front of the stage. At that time, I was emotionally overwhelmed from my job. I didn't feel like I was good enough or adequately prepared to help these girls....so I walked up to ask for prayer. After she prayed, the woman told me about her life group on Tuesday nights. Already, more doors were opening up. Though, I left that night only learning her name because I thought her life group information was on the website.
A few days later, the church was having an info meeting about their church. Kinda like a membership class where we meet the pastors and they talk about the church, but without actual membership with the church. There, I met a woman who had newly moved to Redding as well and learned that she regularly attends the Sunday night service. I told her that next time that I'm there, I will find her.
A couple of weeks go by and I don't attend the night services but the morning services because I had planned to go home. When I finally attend the night service, I find the woman that I met at the info meeting towards the front of the church. We reconnect and talk for a while. While we were both leaving the row where she was sitting, I guess we both spotted the same woman cause we started making our way towards her. That woman we were both walking towards was the first woman that prayed for me weeks before. Low and behold, they are in the same life group so naturally, God is saying "now you know 2 people in the same life group. I think you should go." Actually, that's me saying I think you should go. I'm sure God is saying "Go already".
So last Tuesday, I went to my first women's bible study and it was awesome. Connecting with other people outside of my work is refreshing AND of course, we're talking about God. We'll see what else God has in store for the next couple of months and what He will teach me.
The Bible reading plan I'm using is the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan. I picked it mainly because I'll be reading four books simultaneously. I have no desire to hurry and finish the Bible in less than a year, but after reading the beginnings of the Old Testament, I may just as well. I have not read all of the Old Testament and the books that I have read, I did not really retain as much. But now, I am so enthralled by it that I couldn't stop reading AND I'm retaining most of what I read. Though, when I got to Leviticus, I have to confess I slowed downed a bit, with all its regulations for offerings, the priests and the people. But reading through all of that makes me appreciate of how things are versus how things were. We really do have freedom through Jesus in many ways to be saved. There is no more need of sacrifices brought to priests on our behalf; the freedom we have is to talk to God directly.
As far as connecting with a local church, I've been attending a church called The Stirring for about a month. It's been wonderful and really God bringing things together. The first time ever that I went to The Stirring was at their Sunday night service. At the end of the service, they had the prayer team come to the front of the stage. At that time, I was emotionally overwhelmed from my job. I didn't feel like I was good enough or adequately prepared to help these girls....so I walked up to ask for prayer. After she prayed, the woman told me about her life group on Tuesday nights. Already, more doors were opening up. Though, I left that night only learning her name because I thought her life group information was on the website.
A few days later, the church was having an info meeting about their church. Kinda like a membership class where we meet the pastors and they talk about the church, but without actual membership with the church. There, I met a woman who had newly moved to Redding as well and learned that she regularly attends the Sunday night service. I told her that next time that I'm there, I will find her.
A couple of weeks go by and I don't attend the night services but the morning services because I had planned to go home. When I finally attend the night service, I find the woman that I met at the info meeting towards the front of the church. We reconnect and talk for a while. While we were both leaving the row where she was sitting, I guess we both spotted the same woman cause we started making our way towards her. That woman we were both walking towards was the first woman that prayed for me weeks before. Low and behold, they are in the same life group so naturally, God is saying "now you know 2 people in the same life group. I think you should go." Actually, that's me saying I think you should go. I'm sure God is saying "Go already".
So last Tuesday, I went to my first women's bible study and it was awesome. Connecting with other people outside of my work is refreshing AND of course, we're talking about God. We'll see what else God has in store for the next couple of months and what He will teach me.
Monday, December 5, 2011
First week of work
My first week of work has not been so bad. Though, I can't do much. It's all about observing. The girls can't come to me for anything and I can't tell/ask them anything unless it's about the program. It's hard to hold my tongue especially when I start to pick up the things they can and cannot do, but they know the rules and the staff and I shouldn't have to remind them.
This week has also been very windy! It sounds like huge waves of water were about to crash on us any moment. When we walked outside, I could see the tall trees sway and it's a little scary. I was talking to one of the staff that lives off-campus and she said there was a tree that blocked the road. I'm not surprised. Apparently it's been windy throughout California when I was reading the news. But high speed winds and the cold weather here make for chilly days and nights. Thank goodness though, Redding is a little warmer because it is farther from the mountains than where I live.
Redding is quite nice. I planned to go to the night service at Bethel Church, but took a few detours getting there. As I was driving up a hill, I noticed the pretty lights of Redding below. Redding is beautiful day and night. And every time I drive to or from the campus, I could see Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak. It really feels like being in Alaska again. Surrounded by all these mountains. Even when I'm on campus and I'm walking back to my dorm, I look up to a clear night sky of stars. It's like being in the desert. I remember visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins when they lived in 29 Palms. We went into the desert and looked at all the stars. The desert was a great place to look at the stars. Alaska was nice too, especially with the northern lights out. It's funny how this wave of my life is spent in or near the mountains more than any other time in my life.
This month, I'll be doing a lot of exploring. Exploring for a church, the city and fun activities to do with the girls. I don't know if they have done this already, but I think I'm going to suggest that we make pinhole cameras. We'll see how it will go and how much it may cost.
This week has also been very windy! It sounds like huge waves of water were about to crash on us any moment. When we walked outside, I could see the tall trees sway and it's a little scary. I was talking to one of the staff that lives off-campus and she said there was a tree that blocked the road. I'm not surprised. Apparently it's been windy throughout California when I was reading the news. But high speed winds and the cold weather here make for chilly days and nights. Thank goodness though, Redding is a little warmer because it is farther from the mountains than where I live.
Redding is quite nice. I planned to go to the night service at Bethel Church, but took a few detours getting there. As I was driving up a hill, I noticed the pretty lights of Redding below. Redding is beautiful day and night. And every time I drive to or from the campus, I could see Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak. It really feels like being in Alaska again. Surrounded by all these mountains. Even when I'm on campus and I'm walking back to my dorm, I look up to a clear night sky of stars. It's like being in the desert. I remember visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins when they lived in 29 Palms. We went into the desert and looked at all the stars. The desert was a great place to look at the stars. Alaska was nice too, especially with the northern lights out. It's funny how this wave of my life is spent in or near the mountains more than any other time in my life.
This month, I'll be doing a lot of exploring. Exploring for a church, the city and fun activities to do with the girls. I don't know if they have done this already, but I think I'm going to suggest that we make pinhole cameras. We'll see how it will go and how much it may cost.
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