It's been awhile...

Hard to believe that it's been almost 2 1/2 years since my last blog post.  So much has happened in the past couple years, it would take me probably a month to finish the post.  So we'll just start with 2015...

During this past March, I was sitting in the youth service listening to our missions pastor speak to the youth about missions, both within their own circle of influence and about overseas evangelism missions trips.  He said something that really struck me this year "Your life with God should always be an adventure."  Now I don't think that means you have to be traveling all the time, but in essence, your life should be exciting with God. He never intended it to be dull.

After hearing that, I realized that I really hadn't been tapping into the potential that God has placed in me...I wasn't really living an adventure with Him.  Since that day, I've been doing my best to change that.  I truly believe this year has been geared towards me focusing on the strengths, abilities and gifts that God has put in me; helping me figure out my purpose, my passion and the next steps in life.   It has been definitely a year of struggles and lots of unanswered questions still linger out there sometimes, but I've learned that if I don't have the answer, go back to the last thing God told me to do.

This year I went on my first overseas missions trip to Costa Rica.  It was definitely a different experience for me; I'd never been out of the country or even witnessed to a stranger on the street.  For the majority of the trip (ok really all of the trip), I kind of stayed back and observed, prayed in the background, etc.  I'm still unsure why I felt I was supposed to go on the trip, but I learned a lot about trusting in God and being led of the Holy Spirit.

(Drinking Green Tea at the end of our very long first day (up for almost 24 hours straight)

I am a planner. I like to have things mapped out to a T.   Being a tax accountant we have strict deadlines. We have projects to complete, there are tax rules we need to follow, there is always a plan, we're always looking ahead, always planning for the next steps. It's all about planning for what might happen next.  I think the rigid structure of my job gets in the way of me listening to and being led of the Spirit.  Sometimes God just wants me to be still and listen.

While we were in Costa Rica, we talked about what it means to be led by the Spirit.  In Costa Rica, there are lots of parks/squares that people go to sit and wait for the bus, sell their products, read, study, etc.  There are lots of people for this tiny little space, especially in downtown San Jose.  With all of that noise, it's easy to get distracted and disconnected from what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you.  I think this is true for my job as well.  It is easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of work to do in a short amount of time and I tend to have those "freak out" moments, when the Holy Spirit is trying to talk to me and tell me how to get it done efficiently or to show me what steps are next.

I think God also wants me to learn to stay connected to Him to be more observant to the people around me in my job.  I need to remember that I'm not just here to make money and then go home for the day. He put me in this position for a reason, He gave me the ability to this job and gives me the grace to continue to do it each day.  But I'm here for His purpose and I need to stay connected to His presence to fulfill that.  Hmm..and at first I thought I had learned nothing on that trip :) I was wrong once again haha.

Other than Costa Rica I've been very blessed to go on a couple additional trips this year, including one to Chicago with one of my best friends from college.  I've also just enjoyed spending time doing things in Minnesota.  I've decided to enjoy the time I get to have an Earth until He comes to take me home.  While not every day is filled with excitement and I still have many frustrating moments, I'm learning to rely more on His grace and less on my own ability.

Here are two of my favorite pics from Costa Rica!! Way too many to choose from honestly :)

(I just loved how there was fresh fruits/veggies all over the place)

(The beautiful Pacific Ocean. God's ability to create amazes me every day)

Ball Pit!

So what would it be like to meet a stranger in a ball pit???

Click on the link below and watch. I found it on Paul Fletcher's blog--radio DJ at Cities97! I liked it..so I thought I would share it w/ you :)

Ball Pitt

Enjoy!

"The greatest threat to America isn't the economy, isn't other nations, isn't one man or woman; it's the hatred and animosity we have towards people with different viewpoints." (Paraphrased, Pastor Mac Hammond).

How fitting and how true.

I've been staring at the wall posts on my facebook for the past hour or so and to be honest, my heart is breaking.

We're a nation fighting against one another instead of coming together as one.

How quickly we've forgotten who our true enemy is; and it's not each other.

How easy it is for us to name call, put down and hurt one another.

And all the while, the devil sits and laughs.  How he hates America just as much as he hates the nation of Israel.  He wants our destruction; unfortunately we are on that path.

And the truth is, the more we stay divided, the more we will fall.

I'm sick of hearing people say "America sucks."  We have no love for our country, no respect for what our founding fathers created; the foundation they laid for this nation, the vision they had for this country.  We don't know our true history..

I love this nation, I'm so blessed to be born here.  I could have been born anywhere, but God put me here, for this time, for this hour.

I think what makes me the most sad is that the Bible says to "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you..." Do we really pray for those who persecute us, or do we pray that they get persecuted in return?  Regardless of what viewpoint you hold, the truth is, that God is "crazy & insanely in love with you.." as my friend put it. 

"For God so loved the world that He freely gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but everlasting life."

The outcome of this election will change this nation no matter what., but I also know God will take care of His kids no matter what.

 It's just time we start acknowledging Jesus.

"Peace of Mind"-Check it out!

So eight years ago now (wow crazy) I went to my first senior high youth Summer Camp! I didn't know anyone..basically I was forced by my parents to go.  However, not w/i 20 minutes of arriving and getting my cabin assignment, I had made 2 new friends.  I've never been more thankful and blessed for friends that I had been in that moment...I can honestly say my life would be drastically different if it weren't for that day :)

Anywho..I wrote all that to say, one of my friends I made that day is an awesome musician/singer/songwriter who just released her first single not to long ago.  It's called "Peace of Mind" written and sung by Melissa Oakvik & CJ Pitts!

I think you all should check it out :) (for those of you who read this anyways)--see below!

1. ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/peace-of-mind/id561748767?i=561749012
2. Bandcamp website: melissaoakvik.bandcamp.com/track/peace-of-mind,
-or-
3. Stream for free by typing in "Melissa Oakvik" on your Spotify library.

Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

Today is your birthday--

I wish I could be there to tell you in person

"Happy Birthday"

but it's best that I am not..

there is so much I miss about our friendship

so many moments I wish I could have shared with you.

but I also know that when God speaks, you're supposed to listen.

I know He gave me direction on what I had to do

so I did it.

Sometimes it doesn't make sense to me,

but I know His plan is perfect, so I won't question it.

I would want you to know,

I don't hate you and I pray for you and your family daily.

I hope today was good for you and that everyday,

you're discovering more about God's plan for your life

and know just how much He loves you and that He is for you (Romans 8:31)

God loves you ! :)

so "Happy Birthday"

God loves you!

Me

The Plan...

It's in this moment that I realize how angry, hurt, and broken I had been during the first few months of this year.

 I am reminded of a sermon that James Tan gave out our church last year.  He said that sometimes it is impossible to see our lives different from where we are at; out of a relationship, in a new job, etc.  but God sees the big picture. He knows that the path He's going to take you down, the path He's laid before you, is so much better than where you are at right now.  Things may be going great;  you feel as nothing could be more right in your life..and then God pulls you out of a relationship or a job, away from friends.  You think "But nothing was better than this..nothing.." but God's plans for your future and better than anything you could dream up..and He knows that in order to get to where He wants to put you, sometimes you have to be pulled out of the situation you're in.

I feel like that's a bunch of run-on sentences..but I'm going to get real...I thought I was in the best relationship ever made; the man I liked finally liked me in return. He loved God, He sought God, he spent time with God, he cared for me, he had plan/path for his future. But really, this wasn't where God wanted me to be.  When you're writing things down like this:

"I'm frustrated, I'm tired, I'm worn out, and all you want to do is quit…because it's easy…because you don't have time to think…because your work is more important..because your friends are more important…because I couldn't possibly understand your desire to go on missions..because I’m possibly that dumb and self-centered.  How dare I even consider going somewhere with you on missions because that would be changing myself for you. You have no idea my desires or anything…because you don't want to know.. you don't want to find out..you don't want to care."

let's face it..somethings wrong.

Awhile back now I had someone pray for me regarding this area of my life. When she prayed for me to experience more Joy in my life, she thanked God that this was something I already possessed in me and that all I had to do was access it.  It didn't always feel like I had Joy..but the truth is..I did..and I do.

I am so thankful God's plan for me is greater than my own and that even when I couldn't see it...He was pulling me back to the path I'm meant to be on :)

Sunrises/Sunsets- How God shows me He loves me :)

Pinwheels!

So recently I went on a trip to Daytona Beach, FL with my friend Kacie from high school. And of course, you cannot see Daytona without visiting the Daytona International Speedway (well I guess you can...but how often do you go visit race car tracks??)  While I'm not an avid NASCAR fan, or even a fan at all, I was fascinated by the pinwheels outside of the speedway.  At the time I didn't think much of it, all I cared about was finding the State of MN, which, much to my dismay was linked together with Wisconsin.  Now, I have nothing against WI, one of my best friends lives there, but I more or less believed that "every state should have their own pinwheel" lol. that would be a lot of pinwheels.  But as I watching one of my favorite shows yetserday, "Cake Boss,"  I finally found out what these pinwheels were for.

One of the most famous women racecar drivers in the world is Danica Patrick.  Needless to say, I did not know this until yesterday, but as I'm watching her describe to Buddy the kind of cake she wants, across the screen flashes her friend Michael Kalish, standing next to all of these pinwheels.  It turns out, he is the creator of the pinwheels in order to raise awareness for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). I thought myself "Sweet! I've seen those."  And now...I share it all with you :)  Maybe one day you too will see the pinwheels in your area as they make their way around the states :)

Check out this site for more about Danica Patrick's Drive for COPD.