never fails...

Here is the beautiful home God has provided for me for the next 4-5 months before Nick and I get married!

It is a block down the street from my store, a few miles from Westridge, 2 blocks from Nick, and about 3 blocks away from Northeastern! About a week before I had to move out of my dorm, this came about. A friend of a friend had a few extra rooms in her house and is letting me stay there! Rent is really extremely low and it is more than I could've possibly asked for. As you can see I snapped these pictures BEFORE the snow :)

If you need my new address, email me!
I will be here until the Big Day! :)
God is so good.

Shovel Time!

Hello to everyone from snowy Chicago!
In the past few days about 10 inches of snow has been dumped on chi town. Since classes are out right now, I have been working alot before I spend some time in sunny Arizona. I shoveled for the first time yesterday morning at 4 am. This is my store and my beautiful shoveling job.

Cali for a Day

Typing this from my favorite place in the world...my home! Yep, Nick and I are about half way through our trip to Arizona. We made a day trip out to Cali so Nick could meet Grandpa and Grandma and some other fam and of course...see the west coast! He had never been before. It was a big blur and way to fast, but we had a blast!

Empowered.

A whole month has blown by since I last blogged, and when I look back on the past few days alone I am amazed at how much can happen within such a small time. Things have been transitioning fast it seems, but somehow not fast enough. But I am learning to be content in every situation, good or bad. Northeastern is coming along, I am still in the process of a few things but I have registered for classes there and really can't wait to start in January. Even more exciting, this past week Chris ( one of our really close friends, also one of the pastors at WestRidge) connected with the Christian club on campus and 2 days later was leading their bible studies and is starting a study called Transformations with them. There are thousands of lost people on this campus and to see God integrate us into the campus is so beautiful. People are going to come to know Jesus and walk with Him. I still do not have a place to live, so I am praying continually that God would show me His will and where He has me. I know He will provide and protect me through the whole process. Wedding plans are great, we are having a blast together. We are really enjoying the whole process and journey together. We are learning a lot about how relationships work the best when Jesus is the motive our hearts, and trying to make that a reality for us. Music at WestRidge is growing. Two weeks ago we had 2 people to play for Sunday, and this Sunday we had 6 (a full band). God is multiplying our resources and we are really starting to see the worship become an intimate time with God and with each other as worship as one body.

A few weeks ago Chad (the pastor at WestRidge) told us this analogy that really hit home for me. It has really shaped me the past few weeks. He said that someone who follows Jesus without the Holy Spirit is like buying a car without the engine, and then having to Fred Flintstone your way around. How ridiculous right? His point being that the Spirit inside of us is how we do anything. Human beings aren't hard wired to love unselfishly or embrace suffering or welcome inconvenience or forgive those who hurt us or think about themselves last, it just isn't anyone's first response (definitely not mine). These things come from the Holy Spirit, in us, empowering us to live and to follow Jesus everyday. I am learning to stop taking control and letting the Holy Spirit empower me to live in a way I never thought I could. When I fail over and over again I have to remember to stop Fred Flintstoning my way and to turn on the engine to empower me to go.

Nick and I go to Arizona for Thanksgiving. 8 days! Can't wait to see my beautiful family.

Another blog...

One of Nick and I's professors, Scot McKnight, who is a very well-known author and an incredibly intelligent man writes a blog called jesuscreed.org. Well, a few weeks ago he asked Nick and I to write a book review on a new book that is about to come out by Shane Claiborne. It is a book on prayer and social justice. So we did, and he posted it on his blog. This blog is also one of the most read blogs in the Christian circles, especially in the emerging circle, and he gets thousands of hits and comments on his blog everyday, so it's fun and pretty cool that he used our book review.

CHECK IT OUT! The blog is -----> www.jesuscreed.org

The blog is titled "Prayer as Activism"
And you can read what we wrote about this new book called "Becoming the Answer To Our Prayers" By Shane Claiborne.


P.S. It is supposed to snow this week.

WE BUILT A PLAYGROUND!

Well, it happened! And we did it! We have a finished beautiful playground next to our facility now and the kids from the neighborhood just can't wait to get playin. Really exciting. This is a huge step for our community. Check out how this was all possible with all the volunteers that came out from across the city. WE BUILT A PLAYGROUND IN 7 HOURS!











Isn't it beautiful!?!

Finals Over + Fall = Mini Road Trip

I finished all my finals today! I made it through 3 of my classes. This means my life will be incredibly manageable and I will actually be able to slow down, I know, an amazing luxury. I really hope I can multiply all the extra free time God is giving to me these next few months, such a blessing.

Anyways, to celebrate, Nick and I drove out to an Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch. It was so beautiful, like I mentioned in my last note, all of the trees just blow me away. (cactus don't change colors you know).
Here are some pictures from today, enjoy. Happy Fall!

They have homemade apple cider and homemade apple cider glazed donuts. My heart skipped a beat when I tasted them for the first time.

Fall, as in the season that comes after Summer and right before Winter.

The leaves are changing here. Purple, deep red, yellow, orange. The trees outside my room are even bare. It is about 70 degrees out everyday. The sun is shining with a little breeze. And so I guess (I'm not really experienced with this whole fall thing), with all those signs, it means fall is here. I can't believe it is already that time. The time when holiday after holiday, time starts to fly away in just one big flash.

New things seem to bloom here in my life everyday. I'm just trying to keep up with all of it and trying not to miss any of it. So, finding a place to start seems a little impossible.

Well, I have officially been accepted at Northeastern Illinois University. And I will be transferring there in January. I am incredibly excited! This door of opportunity you could call it has just been placed in front of me it seems like. It all sort of happened on it's own. But I will be finishing my Bachelor Degree in Art with an emphasis in Art History at Northeastern. This is a commuter school, meaning that there is no "on campus" housing, which also means that in about 3 months, I will be moving yet again into a new living space. The campus is less than a block away from North Park, so I am not going far. I cannot even begin to understand how God managed to work all of this out. But, apparently, I moved 1700 miles away from home to go to a school that no one has ever heard of, to lead worship with a brand new church plant 2 miles from the North Park campus, then to meet my husband, once again at a school I wouldn't be at for more than a year and a half, and the craziness continues...I know, take it in. Life is way beyond me.

Speaking of my husband to be...wedding plans are coming along. The big day is May 28th, 2009. We couldn't be more excited. We just took some of our engagement pictures, and a few of them are posted. There will be more to come, but you can have a little sneak peak. And the story of how we met the girl, Sasha, who is taking these pictures is amazing all in itself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theoperamafia

This upcoming Friday, there will be close to 300 volunteers from all over the city helping to build a playground next to the WestRidge facility. A non-for-profit organization, KaBoom, is donating a $40,000 playground, that the kids from our neighborhood designed, right on our property. We are so stoked. This is going to be such a blessing to our community, that is filled with kids who just need some love.

A few exciting things going on here that I wanted to share with you!
I will be better about updating life in the windy city so all of you can continue to share in my journey.

The Brohon

Wrigley meets TJ Bennett

My little big brother is here, and of course, Dad hooked us up with some Wrigley seats. First time inside the glorious cubbie field for TJ, so it was awesome. Here are some pics of us in the Stadium having fun and being sad that the cubbies lost 12 - 6 today.






Nick informed me that there was a lemon ice thing that some of the vendors walking around had. SO, my heart was set on getting that in my belly. I followed the "lemon thing" Guy from a mile away. And, yep, as you can see, when he got to us, it was chocolate. Unbelievable. I cried for the rest of the game. Lemon thing guy seriously let me down. It was actually quite hilarious. Nick and TJ laughed at me as I drowned in tears of sadness and mourning for my lemon thing.

a new way to see it

One of my Bible professors spoke some wisdom yesterday that really changed my understanding of spiritual disciplines.

He said, "We have spiritual disciplines, NOT to become more spiritual. Being disciplined is not a way to become closer and more intimate to God, it is a response to situations that are presented to us. We fast, as a response to a situation..." -Scot McKnight

Really changed the way I see it.

A New Year

Classes started today. I am totally unpacked and moved into my new dorm room and things are rolling. I am getting ready to shift into a new type of routine and ready for God to move in my heart yet another semester.

Was reading in Exodus 33 yesterday and was reminded again just how badly I need the Presence of God to walk with me, to distinguish me from all other faces on this earth and to be my witness for the life I live (vs 15-16). I want so desperately to see the glory of God here on this earth.

Check this out!!
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Exodus 34:5-7

Wow, If that doesn't make me wanna fall to my face in complete awe of the God that I serve.

PS. Nick and I are working on a date for the wedding and will keep you posted on all the ways God keeps blessing us in this process of getting married!!

IM ENGAGED!!!

Yep! You heard it right, Nick proposed!! We are so excited! More details to come!!!

Would anyone notice

So, as you all know, I work where the source of all coffee flows from...just kiddin. Some probably think so though. And it sure seemed like the source of coffee also means source of life when a few days ago we had to shut our store down for NO MORE THAN 2 HOURS because of some construction around our store. The city had to stop the water, so health code says we can't be open. Not really a huge deal, you would think. At 9 am apparently this is a large problem here on Foster and Sawyer (the street corner we sit on). People thought we were joking. Like it was an end of the summer April fool's or something. Then, after they realized we weren't joking when we had to pry their little espresso sucking hands off of the door, repeating very slowly and carefully, "We are closed sir, sorry," people flipped! Totally flipped. "HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THROUGH MY DAY NOW???" was not an uncommon response. And, "Are you kidding me? This is ABSURD!" Ha, absurd? Really? Or, one of my favorites, "Where am I supposed to get my coffee now???!!" Well, right around that corner, or you could go up that street, or if you're headed that way there is one in the middle of the street so you don't even have to move one lazy finger from your vehicle.

Well, anyways, it got me thinking. What would happen if The Church (the Body of Christ) closed down for 2 hours? Would people notice? Would people not know what to do with the rest of their day? Would it effect anyone?

Sometimes, the answer sadly, and sort of ashamedly is, no. It wouldn't. But I believe that that can change. If we give ourselves up in a radical way. The way Jesus did. It would be noticed. The Kingdom of God would be essential for living. Not Starbucks.

NICK'S NEW BLOG

This rad dude named Nick has a new blog. You should at least give it a chance. You will get hooked. He is really stoked about it and would love for you guys to read it and leave comments!

(you can click the title above where it says "Nick's New Blog" and it will link you to the blog)
*If for some reason the link doesn't work for you go ahead and copy paste this into your web address ---> nicholasjamesjohnson.blogspot.com

Thanks guys.

Brit's 1st Soccer Game

It was Nick's 20th Bday this weekend and so I took him to a Chicago Fire Game (MLS), yep it was pretty sweet. And, as we all know, I have watched baseball games since I took my first breath. So, it was pretty fun to watch. Nick had to teach me what everything meant and how the game is actually played. So, I am learning. The fans are intense. There is a whole section that chants and plays drums and screams the entire time. There are some devoted people when it comes to soccer. It was a sold out game too. The stadium was totally packed. Everything was said twice, once in english, and then again in spanish. A nice cultural experience. (Actually I think its pretty great to be reminded that Americans aren't the only people on this planet.) Oh and apparently at a soccer game it is totally ok to wear a scarf in the middle of summer. Not so sure about that one. But, we won, 1-0. I know, high scorin game. End result, Brit is totally into the soccer scene and this won't be the last game I'm at. Sorry dad.

Just a Few...

Well, as each week flies by I am left speechless by the work of the Holy Spirit here on this earth. God is filling me with this uncontrolable desire for people to know Him. I wake up each morning and wonder how anyone could do the same without knowing that Jesus has rescued and restored their life. I want people to know the joy that I have everyday. If I could just share the littlest bite size of the grace and peace that I walk in everyday, there is no way anyone would go back. It's not that I want to tell someone that their wrong, I just want them to know. I want them to know that there was a man who came and has rescued them from pain. I want it so bad for them. For the people who live in my flat, the friends who have been hurt by their families, the people I work with who are searching for life, the kids who run around the neighborhood wondering why any of this is worth it. All of them. I want them to know Jesus. Cuz He would change their life. And I really, really believe that.

If you could be praying...some situations have come up at WestRidge, and the current guy leading worship will be stepping down for the next year. This means that I will be stepping into his place and leading worship for the church. Pray that God's Spirit would fill me and use me to bring others into His presence. Pray that I can lead well and the way that God desires for me to. Pray that worship would happen daily in this church community, and that I could be just a small part in pointing everyone straight to Jesus. I know that God is asking me to step forward in this way and I am really, just honored and blessed to be a part of something so great here. Also, if you could be praying for the situations that have led up to this, that healing and restoration would come and that God would be worshipped in all of it.

The Little Munchkin

I've been hit with a new understanding of Jesus the past few weeks. In one of the books I was reading for my internship I came across the statement "Jesus is not the church. And the Church is not Jesus. We can't get those two things confused." And so it got me thinking...what the heck does that mean??

So, I reverted back in my head to sunday school as a cute little munchkin, with long blonde curly locks, and remember hearing over and over again, "Jesus is always with you" "No matter what Jesus will never leaver you" "Jesus is everywhere" "Jesus is always always always (you get the picture) with you" And so I think I (and a lot of other munchkins hearing the same things) started to create an understanding of Jesus that was this thing, this being, this spirit, that was everywhere, all at once, with everyone, never leaving. Because as far as I know, humans can't do all those things, so Jesus, even though he was a human, kinda lost that human feel to him. Because he was everywhere, and always with me.

Now when I came out of my munchkin dream from Sunday school, I realized that the the "weird floaty spirit thing" that was always with me, was, and is, the Holy Spirit. Jesus, even though we don't talk about it much, after He died, overcame death by resurrecting His body, appearing to his disciples, and then ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. It says in Luke chapter 24 verse 36 that "Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." It says he STOOD AMONG THEM. And of course, like any normal human being, they figured they were going crazy and seeing ghosts. I would too. But nope, this was the real deal. Jesus tells them in verse 39, dudes Im not a ghost, I am flesh and bones, touch me seriously. And then to top the whole shindig off he goes and is "taken up into heaven." And as far as I know, thats the last we have seen of Jesus. So, if my steps are right here...then Jesus is with God, still as real as he was when he walked on this earth. Now THAT IS THE JESUS IM TALKING ABOUT! Jesus is with us, yes, always, totally, because when you read on, Jesus' SPIRIT comes down to earth and empowers us and lives with us and breathes with us. The Holy Spirit is always with us. Jesus, is a real person, who lives with God right now.And not on big fluffy clouds in the sky singing twinkle twinkle little star...

But seriously guys, how rad is that? That Jesus is alive, and His Spirit is here with us. God has really renewed that idea in me. This is a big deal, and I want to tell other little munchkins with curly blonde locks that Jesus sent His very own Spirit to be with them everywhere everyday, and that Jesus is real, and that one day everything will be renewed and restored where we can live with THAT Jesus here on earth. Take that little munchkin.

P.S. I never really got back to the original question I started with from the book, but I learned some other really cool things so I figure I don't need to for now.

Team Time

Well, this week is going to be a little crazy. I have organized over 100 students/mission teams staying with us at WestRidge all in the same week. There are 3 teams and each of them will be helping us love our neighbors this week. Lots of fun stuff planned, and lots of relationships to be had. Be praying that details go smoothly and everyone stays on the same page. And hopefully we can just love some people for Jesus (the real reason we do any of this madness).

Here are some more pictures from the Fourth of July trip down to North Carolina I promised! Enjoy!