A wise old man

This rockin old man, who is in love with God told me something pretty cool today.

"When we listen, God hears us."

Think about it.
Things like this turn my world around and God speaks in the most unseen places in my life. The way which we are sure life works, is always turned around. God flips it around and rocks our world in the totally unexpected. This man was telling me that when I listen to God, he will answer me. When usually its me thinking I need to jab at God some more to better explain the situation and what is going on. Yet, God hears me when I am following His will, putting His Kingdom first, and listening to His leading in my life. When I listen, or obey God, He makes sense out of it all.

Absolutely beautiful.

satisfied

Today is one of those days I wish I could hold onto more often. I can hear my own thoughts and feel the weight of my eyelids close slowly. They open like its the first time and I look around. Every image is so clear. Each person I pass has expressions that seem to be larger-than-life. He yawns and you can feel the stress release as he exhales. The teenie boppers giggle, and their heads fling back with life and excitement. The old woman waiting for the bus seems to be frozen in time as she stands crooked in the middle of the street.
Another second passes.
It's as I see it all at once.
And everyone just keeps going.
Its beautiful.
I have a slight grin on my face all day, because as I sit reading my book, looking out the big chicago style window, I am content.

Paul writes in Philippians that he found the secret of being content in every situation. Plenty. Want. He had experienced it all. And yet through Jesus' spirit in him, he was satisfied.

With Jesus' spirit alive in me, in all the countless ways I have plenty, and in all the ways I am in desperate need, I am satisfied.

Flashbacks

The past 2-3 months sure did go by. I feel as if that saying alone is a flashback, I sure say that a lot. But I mean it every time, you gotta hold onto every moment you are in, it will pass. Jesus is here and now. Change is now, healing is now, victory is now. Though apparently it's coming in 5-8 years as well. Keep your eye out for it.

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.