Sunday, January 31

Week 1

There's no way I can really sum this week up- it's been a whirlwind of courage, conflicts, confusion and costly textbooks. I think that's usually how most "first weeks" go, but this one was different. I've been given a new perspective, one that is not my own- it's like everything in life tastes different.

Four things that stood out to me:

1) A Conversation
-A friend and I met by chance on Tuesday afternoon. We talked a bit about the day, our classes- he told me, so nonchalantly, about how his whole lecture class had found out he was a Christian. His openness and enthusiasm totally caught me off guard (in a good way)- it was so... refreshing, and honest. The genuineness of his faith totally rejuvenated my outlook and stayed with me throughout the week.

2) Learning about Fears
-Class tardiness and ocean waves were teaching me big lessons about myself this week. Good thing I had a friend for each to encourage me.

3) Beach Devotional
-Saturdays mornings are for Scripture & surf. This week's topic was "hope" and some good verses were shared. The one I brought was

Titus 3:4-7:"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

4) Lessons from God
-I'm putting pieces of the puzzle together and it's so cool! It would be kind of long to type here, but let me know if you want to hear about how Japan put me in a Swahili class. Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, January 27

The Stirring

The stirring.
The stirring.
There’s a stirring inside you.
A stirring behind you, please don’t look beside you.
A calling.
A motion.
To rise and be read of all that’s within you that’s meant to be said.
To call out, “a Savior! He’s born and again- He’ll come down, He’ll come back…”
But never say when.
And I am so lowly.
And I am so weak.
But nothingness speaks
And hunger, it reeks
Of souls wroth in havoc
And twisted with death
The angels cry bootlessly, tears wholly shed.
Where are the lost, now?
Where are the blind?
Swimming in darkness- my suffering kind.
O Great Divinity, where is your hand?
Cover in mercy this suffering land!
Cover in mercy, and buttress the weak
For they are your sheep
And they are the meek
And they are the ones I am eager to seek
To find, and to show,
And seeds I will sow
If only by mercy and grace will they grow.
For I am a vessel.
I am a vessel.
A stirring, a stirring.
There’s a stirring inside you.
A stirring behind you.
A calling, a motion.
To rise and be read of all that’s within you and meant to be said.
It’s meant to be said.
It’s meant to be said.
The stirring.
The stirring.
The stirring.
The stirring.

Sunday, January 24

What & Why

The cursor has been sitting at the start, blinking, for about 10 minutes; I'm not really sure where to begin.

I am unfortunate enough to be experiencing, first hand, the effects of California's budget. Between losing three classes and losing my job, there's not much else to say bout this week except that it's been a crash-course through patience and flexibility.

The Job:
I worked @ the CPAC for 3 reasons-
1) Tithing - though it would be a small amount, the money would help fund the ministry Mark and Jin Rood in Tokyo, Japan.
2) Saving - for a trip back to Japan and a new guitar
3) Dancing - I was hoping to get back into what I love and miss

The Classes:
I was attempting to create a class schedule that would also allow me to work. Even though I lost my job, this was still a possibility. But when I lost my Japanese class, and had to fill in another one, the times when I could work disappeared. Goodbye 3 good reasons for a job...

-the saddest thing about this is that the unfortunate aspects of the budget crisis also affect those I wished to help and minister to in Japan.

Hello Jeremiah 29:11 : "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

I'm aggravated and upset. I'm trying to make peace with the way everything is turning out. I'm trying to remember the promises in that verse. I'm trying to see reason. And I'm hoping to make the most of it.

Good Things:
-auditioned for a worship team today
-get to go to Navs this semester
-my education is being paid for
-I'm young, I have time
-God is good

Friday, January 22

Severing Ties

It's nothing more than an exercise of patience when you realize that high school is still trying to poison you.

Thursday, January 21

The Niño

Today I learned 2 things:

1) How to make a snow shelter.
2) How to survive a flash-flood on foot.

Interestingly enough, those two skills might actually come in handy.
What is with California lately? I feel like there might be more hype than damage, but if Reno and Carson City are about to become coastal towns, I wouldn't be surprised.

Unfortunately, all this weather-ness is postponing my return to Long Beach. With heavy coastal winds, tornado warnings, and snow that may close I-5 through the grapevine, my little pod of a car is shaking its hood "no."

With Saturday plans, the frustration of inevitable un-attendance is currently winning.

The challenge is this: Jeremiah 29:11