A Prayer.

From here.

Jesus......

Unfetter me from thinking too much about what I’m not, by showing me more of you and who I am in you. Liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment.

Jesus, help me to use fewer words and better listening when engaging others. Please help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Free me to be more intrigued with people I don’t know and less timid around strangers. Turn my hair-trigger reactions into slower, wiser, kinder responses. Break my heart-shackles of irritability, agitation and cynicism. Free me from trying to fix anybody.

Please free me for greater spontaneity, louder laughter, saltier tears, and quicker repentances. There is no liberating and loving Savior like you, Lord Jesus. So very Amen I pray, with gratefulness and anticipation, in your most compassionate name.

peachy keen sunset.

view from my front yard last night.

my january: iphone edition.

new year's shoe shopping

The Wedge 1.21.12

This was such a good day. The pics get bigger when you click on them. I wish I could capture the intense sunset better, but man oh man I love this place.

Surprise- a brief emotional state experienced as the result of an unexpected event.

God has been surprising me left and right. I came back home in December with no plans of a job, uncertainty about the 'next step' in life, and some prayers (including Uganda) not really answered or moved towards any answer. I was praying that I'd get a job by the end of January, that a mentoring opportunity would happen, and that even though it seemed impossible, I'd get to go to Uganda.

After doing the usual 3 Christmases and traveling to see family members and friends, I went to Utah for a pre-getting a new job vacation. The first team meeting for Uganda was held while I was there and more people were interested than there were spots. That wasn't too encouraging, especially since I would be last pick. I kept praying about it until I knew for sure what the outcome would be.

Then I got the best voicemail ever and heard that a lot of people backed out of Uganda and there was room for me! I cried like a dweeb and was SO excited. Went straight into fundraising and have been so surprised by the responses from my family and friends. People I haven't talked to in YEARS are sending me the most encouraging emails and are willing to support me, even though I've failed them as a friend! Distant family friends, people from churches I've attended, CSM groups I hosted, friends who went to Utah with me, dance teammates, summer camp staff, Starbucks employees, etc. It is so cool to see the responses and to see 1) how many people have been brought into my life in different ways and 2) the body of Christ coming together! I know God will provide and I am dependent on him to provide, I'm praying for more and more surprises like that. :)

Also, I've been meeting with a HS girl for Bible study, coffee, prayer, etc. and it has been such a blessing. It is crazy that God would want to use me like that when I have no idea what I am doing. He's giving me the words and ideas though, and so far they have been working out great.

I love surprises. I like scary movies because they are full of (scary) surprises.....but in general I love all surprises. Notes, emails, texts, visits, etc. and God totally knows this and is loving on me so much! He is being gracious to me and exalting himself in it. MMMMM.

Newport Beach, 1.21.12

2012

Last year my verse for the year was Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and See that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" and God totally proved himself faithful and good to me in so many ways. God is so good. I had an awesome moment awhile back where I was trying to fall asleep but instead kept thinking about all the good things God was doing in my life. It was overwhelming in a completely good way.

This year these are on my heart.....

Psalm 46:5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent.

Proverbs 31:12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

Lamentations 3:22-25 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

I'm excited for what this year will bring because, as of right now, I have no idea what this year will look like for me. It's an adventure. :)

I want this prayer answered.

"O Lord, You alone give abundant life. Deliver me from myself. Help me to see how destructive pride is, and how easily I revert to living under the law. Make me aware of how needful, dependent, and imperfect I am. May I continually be in awe of the abounding grace I receive from You. Enable me, Lord, to share Your grace with others. Thank You for never giving up on me. Thank You for Your grace that perfects, confirms, strengthens, and establishes me. May I become a woman of grace who is known for her giving spirit and for her love for You. May I become a gracious woman who attains honor for Your kingdom. I love You, Lord. Amen."