"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good tidings of good things!" Isaiah 52:7
The past month has gone by rapidly and beautifully. This is my final semester at PLU and I have continually felt the Lord speak to me that this is a season of rest. Granted, when I returned from Haiti in July of 2012 I also felt the Lord speak that and I tried to fight it with everything in me.
Looking back, I see that I was afraid. I was afraid of resting and releasing responsibilities. I was afraid of people judging my relationship with the Lord as "not real" or to think that I was "backsliding" in my faith. It took a year, and after many months of no sleep, working endless hours on top of school, and not getting to visit my family, the Lord woke me up to the reality that I need rest.
Thus, I returned to Idaho for a month (during the interim term at PLU) and lived with a marvelous family from church. I got to go to bed at decent hours, wake up to my biological clock, and work out without worrying about running to this place or that. I got to spend time in the Bible, journal, walk around the lakes and trees of Idaho, and visit with my family. In between Idaho and returning to PLU, my friend Karly and I traveled to Santa Monica, CA for some sun, and to visit my aunt. It was a great time of adventure and falling in love with a new city.
After returning to PLU, I jumped back in with Ignite Campus Ministry, interning at Tacoma Art Museum, and taking my last three classes of PLU. My schedule made it hard to make the meetings for Ignite and I felt that it was time for me to release the leadership I had held for many years. My pastors (Dan and Michael) sent me off and are meeting with me in this transition time which is definitely what I need. I have realized that my heart is for full-time missions (specifically overseas), for revival in the nations, and to see all ages empowered and walking in their passions to spread the love and light of Jesus. In having this clarity of vision I also realized that that means I need covering. So, in these three months that is exactly what I am learning... what is truly means to live under covering and how to operate in that.
Additionally, the Lord has been speaking to me about "the power of a focused life". The phrase is literally on replay in my mind and I can't hit stop. All I want is to sit at the feet of Jesus, and if I am not focused and constantly running trying to meet others' expectations, then I cannot do what I have been made for-that is, to be with Jesus. So, these next three months I am getting focused. I am seeking wisdom on balancing relationships and transitioning from college.
All in all, I do not know what is next after this season, but I know my vision/ goals:
1. Pay off credit card debt (about $5000)
2. Pay off student loans (about $32000)
3. Return to Haiti to live long-term and work among the people.
As of now, I plan to be in Tacoma until I return to Haiti. I am praying for a good salary job to help pay loans faster and I am praying for practical training to prepare for the mission field (getting certified in CPR, First Aid, accounting/budgeting, business practices, etc are ideas I am throwing around).
In reference to the photo:
I had to retire my running shoes this past month. After two years and travelling from the US to Haiti and back a few times it was high time for them to go. I couldn't think of any great analogy today in the prospect of retiring my shoes; however, it brought me back to a dream I had in January of 2012. In the dream the Lord asked me to let go of my shoes and let go of my fears and expectations and release myself to Him- that He would be the one to carry me in the river of life.
So, in retiring my shoes, I am trusting Him- My Father and Provider. I am trusting that He will be the One to carry me and lead me to each adventure and lead me in every place. I am trusting that His Way is perfect and His burden is light. I am trusting Him as my Defender and my Comfort.
I am trusting Him for everything; that the stress may roll away and fullness of joy and healing be released in my life and also in yours.
God Bless
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
The past month has gone by rapidly and beautifully. This is my final semester at PLU and I have continually felt the Lord speak to me that this is a season of rest. Granted, when I returned from Haiti in July of 2012 I also felt the Lord speak that and I tried to fight it with everything in me.
Looking back, I see that I was afraid. I was afraid of resting and releasing responsibilities. I was afraid of people judging my relationship with the Lord as "not real" or to think that I was "backsliding" in my faith. It took a year, and after many months of no sleep, working endless hours on top of school, and not getting to visit my family, the Lord woke me up to the reality that I need rest.
Thus, I returned to Idaho for a month (during the interim term at PLU) and lived with a marvelous family from church. I got to go to bed at decent hours, wake up to my biological clock, and work out without worrying about running to this place or that. I got to spend time in the Bible, journal, walk around the lakes and trees of Idaho, and visit with my family. In between Idaho and returning to PLU, my friend Karly and I traveled to Santa Monica, CA for some sun, and to visit my aunt. It was a great time of adventure and falling in love with a new city.
After returning to PLU, I jumped back in with Ignite Campus Ministry, interning at Tacoma Art Museum, and taking my last three classes of PLU. My schedule made it hard to make the meetings for Ignite and I felt that it was time for me to release the leadership I had held for many years. My pastors (Dan and Michael) sent me off and are meeting with me in this transition time which is definitely what I need. I have realized that my heart is for full-time missions (specifically overseas), for revival in the nations, and to see all ages empowered and walking in their passions to spread the love and light of Jesus. In having this clarity of vision I also realized that that means I need covering. So, in these three months that is exactly what I am learning... what is truly means to live under covering and how to operate in that.
Additionally, the Lord has been speaking to me about "the power of a focused life". The phrase is literally on replay in my mind and I can't hit stop. All I want is to sit at the feet of Jesus, and if I am not focused and constantly running trying to meet others' expectations, then I cannot do what I have been made for-that is, to be with Jesus. So, these next three months I am getting focused. I am seeking wisdom on balancing relationships and transitioning from college.
All in all, I do not know what is next after this season, but I know my vision/ goals:
1. Pay off credit card debt (about $5000)
2. Pay off student loans (about $32000)
3. Return to Haiti to live long-term and work among the people.
As of now, I plan to be in Tacoma until I return to Haiti. I am praying for a good salary job to help pay loans faster and I am praying for practical training to prepare for the mission field (getting certified in CPR, First Aid, accounting/budgeting, business practices, etc are ideas I am throwing around).
In reference to the photo:
I had to retire my running shoes this past month. After two years and travelling from the US to Haiti and back a few times it was high time for them to go. I couldn't think of any great analogy today in the prospect of retiring my shoes; however, it brought me back to a dream I had in January of 2012. In the dream the Lord asked me to let go of my shoes and let go of my fears and expectations and release myself to Him- that He would be the one to carry me in the river of life.
So, in retiring my shoes, I am trusting Him- My Father and Provider. I am trusting that He will be the One to carry me and lead me to each adventure and lead me in every place. I am trusting that His Way is perfect and His burden is light. I am trusting Him as my Defender and my Comfort.
I am trusting Him for everything; that the stress may roll away and fullness of joy and healing be released in my life and also in yours.
God Bless
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4