Life Lessons

Lesson One: Life is Hard.

I have had a lot of breaking happening lately. One hope, one dream at a time- each comes crashing down. It seems Providence would have huge things happen just to have one lesson learned in my life... If He would just ask, I would do it, so I wouldn't have to learn lessons like this- this being the school of hard knocks. Each brings me back to same place though... each backs up one simple truth: Romans 8: 31-39. I am not exempt. I still suffer (if you call what I go through suffering). Yet nothing- NOT ONE THING can separate us from the love of Christ. That one thing- if nothing else- that one thing I can cling to and put my hope in- everything else is just details.  It is that one thing that makes us who are in Christ victorious. 

I am also thankful for the difficulties- loves lost, dreams smashed, hopes deferred- they are all discipline and though no discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Which basically says, "Ya ain't gittin' your way now 'cause it is the best thing for ya and I love ya too much for you to git ev'rthin' ya want, but later life will be sweeter and better for you if you learn this now". He loves me too much. Ahh that is good to hear. 

Lost Job

So that job at GDC... God saw fit to remove it... they called yesterday at 3 to tell me that they didn't need me. I was basically laid off before I started. Needless to say I was shocked... speechless really. I am living on a really, really tight budget right now and now I don't have any hours at my other job for the next two weeks. I just kept repeating, "It's okay... I'm okay". I was with my pastor's wife cutting 8 million recipes at the time, so I didn't want to break down and cry. She asked if I was just saying if I was okay or if I really was. I decided it was both. I really did think God knew what he was doing, but at the same time I didn't feel that way. I just cried a couple tears and I was okay. God will provide.

This was such a shocker to my system, but looking at it objectively (like I love to do).  This is such a great lesson. I had an opportunity to really trust God. I like those moments. Who wants a life where everything is planned out? I can roll with it. I just recited one of the verses I am memorizing this week... 2 Corinthians 9:8... God is able to abound all grace to us so that in ALL things at ALL times having ALL THAT WE NEED we are able to abound in EVERY GOOD WORK. You know I had already staked a claim in that money that was coming my way... I had plan... good plans... I was going to adopt a World Vision kid and get to advance his kingdom with that as well as a few needed items I needed from a little place called Vicky's;). But you know what... that money was really his and I just wasn't asking Him. I thought I knew what God wanted me to do with that money. They were all my ideas. I learned a valuable lesson and was able to encourage others... God totally has good plans for me... I just need to continue to be faithful in the small things and learn to see that everything is his and he has given me EVERYTHING I NEED FOR ALL THE GOOD WORKS HE HAS FOR ME NOW!! 

My November Guest

My Sorrow, when she's here with me, Thinks these dark days of autumn rain Are beautiful as days can be; She loves the bare, the withered tree; She walks the sodden pasture lane. Her pleasure will not let me stay. She talks and I am fain to list: She's glad the birds are gone away, She's glad her simple worsted grey Is silver now with clinging mist. The desolate, deserted trees, The faded earth, the heavy sky, The beauties she so truly sees, She thinks I have no eye for these, And vexes me for reason why. Not yesterday I learned to know The love of bare November days Before the coming of the snow, But it were vain to tell her so, And they are better for her praise  Robert Frost

More pics from the Baptism

My friend, co-worker and stabilizer Cassie and I!!

Cindy, Cassie and Me!!!

Bruce and Erin!! (Married Couple)

Erika, Gavin, Gabe, and Cooper!!

Cute Gavin!!

More pics of the Baptism.

Cooper pulling Ethan!!!

Tasha and Dane (Darren's wife and boy, who I babysit)

Cooper pulling Bruce!!

Ellie, Keeley, Jordan and Taylor (Darren and Tasha's daughter, who I also babysit)!!!

High school girls and a college girl from our church!

Baptism!!!

We had a baptism at our church and in true California style we had it in a pool.... the hot tub of one to be exact!!! Three guys got baptized. One had been a Christian for 13 years, but had been sprinkled as a baby and wanted to follow the New Testament way and get dunked. The second man, Darren, came to Jesus 6 weeks ago. He has decided that Jesus is the path to God he wants to follow. The next man had only come to Jesus a week before the baptism at a dinner explaining what the Bible said it was to be a Christian. He had been serving in church for 3 years before he came to Jesus!!! I am so thankful for my 2 new brothers in Christ... It is amazing to see Christ change lives... I felt like in the midwest that people hardly ever come to Jesus after college, but here are 2 examples!!!! 

Jazz-n-Java!

So this is the coffee shop at which I am a barista. I love working here and seeing the regulars come in. I know so many people now and see them all over Orangecrest. God really blessed me with this job!! I even had a regular give me some of a special spaghetti sauce that is a family recipe today!!! The music is slow and I think I have heard Jewel more in the past two weeks than I did when I was a 15 year old and had her CD on repeat!! ;O) 

Eric my boss has recently put me in charge of speed dating, which will start up in January!!! I am so excited!!! It will be a great way to meet new people and help them meet others who would be a good match for them!!! Monday I am going to start working full time at Global Direct Components a tire, wheel and axle manufacturing company here in Riverside. I will still work Monday and Wednesday nights at Jazz-n-Java when I get off at GDC... well at least until January then I hope to only do the speed dating. I am nervous and excited all at the same time about my new job and schedule... I am memorizing 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 to encourage me that God will see me through all this crazy work schedule. Anyway here are some pics...

This is Jazzmo our mascot!!!

The Fall Conference in Big Bear!!!

I was blessed to go the FDC '08 that the Christian Challenge of USC had a few weeks ago... It was a brilliant time!!! I learned so much from my long term hero Max Barnett!!!  Of course he spoke on scripture memory, quiet times and discipleship!!! It was great!!! I met so many new people and was able to be recharged!!!

Where we met.

My friend Val and I rode up the mountain together!!

We also had beautiful scenery!!

It was nice and cool... 70 degrees during the day and 30 at night. It sure beat the 95 degree heat in Riverside. I spent a nice quiet time with God looking out at this scene while basking on a warm boulder. God and I had a long date at Starbucks when I came back down the mountain. Things changed a bit while I was on that mountain!!! I was introduced to some new ideas of what God could have for me and reminded of things forgotten and was deeply encouraged by the lives of a few people!!!

The Grand Reopening

Our Church moved locations to the new Orangecrest Community Center... and this is our celebration of that!!!!!!

Gavin had gotten his hair cut for the occasion!!

Tanya and Tess Chilled!!

Shawna and my roommate, Katie!!

Tons of people showed and we had In-n-Out!!!

We also had blow up things for the kids to play on!!!!