It’s Only Been an Hour And I Really Miss Her

I just said goodbye to my mom after a wonderful vacation of surprising my cousin for her 25th birthday several days ago. My mom and I had a great time, and much like many vacations we were steadily busy with events (birthday celebrations) and going to  “must go to” stores. I was really blessed. However, I have realized that I am homesick and have been for quite some time. I miss sleeping in my own room, my own bed, with my dog, and having more than enough quality time with my mom and dad. Therefore, this trip was not long enough for mom-daughter time. My mom is one of my best friends and I really appreciate her, even the times when she calls me out or says mother-like things. Such as, “Don’t forget to…” and things like that. But even when she acts like my mom or says things that mom’s say, I still love her and respect her. She has gone through so much in her life, of which several things I have learned from. She is a great mom and always tried to do what was best for me. It’s only been an hour since her flight took off, but I really miss her.

Sometimes I wish I had more than enough money to know what to do with, because I would plan weekend visits to see one another or to go places, just me and her. But I don’t have that much money right now, but maybe one day I will.   

I love my mom! She’s the best mom (and only mom)
I’ve ever had!

Metaphor: My Life As a Chapter In a Book

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine about how about 8 weeks ago; I realized metaphorically speaking that writing the end of a chapter in your life is a lot harder than it seems. At the beginning of January as I processed the last year or two, I found myself not really being able to fully describe what was going on because I was anticipating the next chapter to begin and dreaming of the stories to come. As I look back on the past 2 years of my life living in Denver, Colorado it has been amazing. I have matured so much which means that I have grown tremendously. I have had more ups than downs, and honestly struggled at times with not knowing how my rent was going to come in and even how to get more people to financially support me as I live in the United States as a missionary. However, through all of my struggles God never left my side and He always provided financially for all of my needs. Through my struggles I learned to trust Him and I learned to lean on Him for strength. For all of the times that were good, I grew in confidence in the woman I am and I grew in self-discipline/ self-control. And the more I put situations in God's hands, the more I would laugh and smile. The joy of the Lord was truly my strength. And this joy was and continues to be contagious. Now as this new chapter has begun the joy from God continues to be my strength. Joy continues on into this chapter.

In the past I have been frustrated that my close friendships would always seem to be in my life for about 2 year increments. However, I recently realized that the reason why those friends only were in my life for about 2 years was because I was beginning a new chapter of my life and they were going in another direction, therefore leading them out of the chapters of my life. This even applies to my last dating relationship, which also lasted around 2 years. While pondering this fact of my close friends being in and out of my life every 2 years, I wondered how I would be able to get married and even wondered if I had something emotionally wrong with me. But actually God revealed to me that as I stated before, those friends of mine and I were going in the same direction at the same time, but then our lives were calling us in different directions. And as for my future husband, God will be always leading us down similar paths and no matter what we are committed to each ... For better or worse better, In sickness and health, For richer or poor richer, Until death we will part.

Speaking of "better or better", that is where I begin to write this next chapter of my life. This past week we had our annual staff conference and I have committed to be on staff for another 2 years. I do not know what it will look like for these next 2 years on staff other than learning more in leadership. However, in my personal life I will be bettering myself in health, life skills, passions, God given dreams and desires, and other things. I am so excited about these things to come, because they are things I have put aside for a time and now I feel like God is strongly encouraging me to pick up those things that I have put aside. I have no idea what it will look like, but I do know that my commitment on staff is more important than these things that I will be pursuing aside from "work time". I am excited to see what doors of opportunity open up and what doors close. Another thing that is great, is that as I am bettering myself in all aspects of life, I will also be bettering those around me and the campus that I volunteer at. I am so excited for these next two years and I love fantasizing about what may come out of my dreams and passions. :-)

You Think You Are Dreaming Big, Dream Bigger With God

For the past 6 weeks, God has been challenging me to think larger and to dream bigger. So, I have been thinking about my future and asking myself questions like, What would I do if I had a lot of money? And If I could do anything in the world, what would I do and why? At first I felt selfish and thought that I shouldn't be thinking so lavishly. But when I asked God about it, I believe He was saying that the things I want to do are not selfish and that I was created for great things. And when I really thought about it my life would be somewhat different, but my passions for bringing people closer to God and inspiring them in truth remains the same. Maybe one day God will bless me with a platform to speak truth and inspire people much like the popular NFL player, Tim Tebow .Or maybe one day I will be working a minimum wage job with what appears to be little influence. It doesn't matter to me as long as I am being obedient to the things God is asking of me. Another things that I have been thinking about is the fact that recently people have told me that I am being a good steward of the things God has given me; which makes me think of this scripture and wonder what other things will God have me be in charge of.


“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ - Matthew 25:23 NIV


Again I ask myself, If I could do anything in the world, what would I do and why?


Sometimes when I begin to think of "my dream job", having a nice house with little to no bills, and having the privilege of speaking truth to thousands of people - I become awestruck thinking Really? Me? No, someone else can do a better job or communicate things better. But why not? Why not me? If that's how God will use me, then so be it. If God wants to use my life in such a enormous way, then let it be. Why should fear of failure, or fear of not communicating effectively get in the way? WHY NOT?! This makes me think of the life of Moses, who led thousands of people out of Egypt (a place filled with many lies and injustices) with a speech impediment. If God used Moses, why not use someone else like me? I don't have a speech impediment, but I do struggle when stressed or under pressure to communicate clearly. With every opposing question that comes in my mind, I realize more and more that it's only a lie. A lie to get me to not walk in the fullness of who God created me to be. However, I will not succumb to these lies. I will not settle for anything less than my best. I will live my life humbly and obediently for God and only Him, no matter how big or small the platform may be. 

January Update

December 2011

Hello Friends and Family,

As I am writing this, the weather outside is 60 degrees and sunny. I say this because it is beautiful, but also shocking. It has been a mild winter this year in Arvada, Colorado. Another thing that’s beautiful is that I am nearing the 2 year mark of when I joined staff here at YWAM Denver. I must say that I have learned so much and I have grown so much as an adult. I would not change anything. Some of the things that I’ve grown in are as follows: trust in God to provide finances, time management, vulnerability, cultural growth (going to Africa), maturity, spiritual leadership and positional leadership. I am planning to continue to be on staff for another 2-4 years which will include moving up in positional leadership, leading 7 week mission trips/outreaches to other countries, and continuing to learn and grow.

I hosted a movie night at my house in the Summer of 2010. About 20 people were there.

For the last year I have been a small group leader in 4 different schools. This means that within the last year I have directly discipled and mentored 13 students, along with speaking into lives and encouraging many other people. Recently, I have prayerfully decided to take a break from being a small group leader and take some time to personally develop more into my personal growth. Sometimes it can be hard to personally rest and grow when you are constantly pouring into the lives of others. So far, God has been teaching me discernment and wisdom. I have been learning so much since this year has begun, and I am constantly in awe of how great God is and how faithful He is to give us the desires of our hearts. Taking this time off from being a small group leader is a minor change, yet with major lifestyle changes. I’m not quite sure how these lifestyle changes will look now, but I am excited to see how my obedience to God will bring understanding later. Even though right now I am not a small group leader, my work load has not decreased as I am currently working in Hospitality, Childcare, and the Creative Ministry Department.

My Small Group - Fall 2011 (Santa and the Elf were not in my small group ;-) )

            In a couple months I will be making some lifestyle changes such as moving on campus which will allow me to put some money in my savings account. I will also be selling my car to get out of some credit card debt. Although I am making these decisions, I still need more financial support. I plan to save for some big life changes in the future. If you would like to invest in my future please contact me, and I will be greatly appreciative. I pray you are doing well and that you are having a blessed new year.

Blessings, 
Becca   J

Summary of the last 3 months

It’s nearing the end of a year and the new year will begin. I know I haven’t written here in 3 months, so let me start off by paraphrasing what’s been going on in my life.
God has been teaching me how to be more vulnerable which in results in trusting Him more. He is teaching me more positional and spiritual leadership. He is teaching me to believe and hope more in the things He has promised me or that I would like to see happen. He is teaching me how to dream with Him. And I am sure there are more things that He is teaching me.

I have been extremely busy this last 3 months and it’s been good but at the same time extremely exhausting. I know things will be slowing down soon, and as things slow down I will still be busy but in a different way because God still wants to work on these things more in my life.

Some decisions I’ve made in the last 3 months:
* To stay on staff with YWAM Denver until 2015 or 2016.
* To move out of my apartment and move on campus (to save money)
* To sell my car to pay off credit card debt.
* To possibly go on an outreach this summer, to see if I want to lead people on missions trips.

 

This entry is kind of all over the place, and it’s because my mind is in several place. I am currently sitting at the airport waiting to go back to Denver. I had an earlier flight, but had a chance to get a voucher so I took it. I still have 3 more hours at the airport until I board. I will hopefully write a deeper entry soon.

It’s JUST the Beginning

The outreach to Orange County, California is over but the work that God has done in the lives of the people there has just begun. Hundreds of people gave their lives to Christ and some rededicated their lives to Him. Many people were delivered from addictions and oppression, while many more were filled up with the Holy Spirit. And about 40 people, including myself, were baptized with in the Pacific Ocean.

Every day we would begin all 250 of us at a church with worship, testimonies, and intercession. We would take a break for lunch and then split into groups to pray about what God wanted us to do for the day. Most of the time my group would break off into two or more people and just love on people by speaking truth into strangers lives, or even simply pray for them.

It was a very fruitful outreach, the people were ready and beautiful willing to have God move in their life. It was beautiful to be bold and courageous to do the things God was putting on our hearts to do.

This was the end of the outreach but only the beginning of what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of people in Orange County.

Day 3 of 10: This is Real

I don’t even know where to begin telling about today. I will just give a brief synopsis of what happened today. We began with worship and then John Dawson spoke and encouraged us. John was is one of the founders of YWAM when it began and he encouraged us about revival and about how hungry people are for hearing about God. After this time of John speaking, we took a break for lunch and gathered again into our groups to go off into ministry.

My group went to Huntington Beach and walked along and talked to people. We share with them about a “party” at a tent at the Hilton that we were having and they were invited. There were several crazy. amazing stories shared as we gathered.

God is moving in RADICAL ways. I feel like as I am living my life right now that I am reading it in a fictional story. But this is not fiction… THIS IS REAL!!!! And it is amazing to see more and more healings, salvations, and more people come back to God after falling away. It’s so beautiful. The atmosphere is changing in a good way. Woo Hoo!!!

I am so privileged to be a part of another revival moment that will soon be written about in history books.

Day 2 of 10: The Circuit Riders have Arrived

Today we began our day with fellowship and worship. It was an encouraging time to be joined together with Ywam Denver and the Circuit Riders from Kona, Hawaii. Even though we are from 2 different places and doing different things, we have all joined together to see revival be spread across the United States, beginning in the West. The people in Hawaii and Denver are not 2 different groups, but 1 large group moving in unity to the heartbeat of our Father. My heart was overjoyed to see about 300 people giving their all in worship, and literally crying out to God for the salvation of people all across the world. I have been to church camps, Acquire The Fire, Christian concerts, and evangelists preach on revival in churches, BUT I have never seen so many people of all ages so passionate about partnering with God about a revival in America. It is so exciting what God is doing and how He is moving. He is already moving in Orange County and people are noticing a shift in the spiritual atmosphere.

After a time of worship and talking about the things God wants to do while we are here in Orange County, we took a break for lunch and then met back to organize into ministry groups. Most of us went over to Huntington Beach to simply share the love of Jesus with people. It was amazing to walk around and see us talking to people or praying for someone. I am sure tomorrow we will hear some stories of God moving while we are here in the O.C. and I am sure tomorrow will look much like today. Around 7pm most of us went to a nearby church where Brian Brennt was speaking. Brian is the visionary behind the Circuit Riders school in Kona.

We arrived back at one of the churches that we are staying around 9:45pm and most of the girls were eager to get into bed. Today was a fruitful and exciting day.

Day 1 of 10: Heading to Orange County

As I write this, I am driving through Utah in a 15 passenger van headed for California. There are around 100 people from YWAM Denver traveling right now with me to meet up with abut 120 people from Kona, Hawaii who just finished a 5 week seminar on seeking revival in America.

For one week there will be meetings in a tent next to the Hilton Hotel by Huntington Beach. These meetings will be evangelism focused, however I am not sure what it will look like from day to day but I am very excited. I believe God has been giving me small glimpses of what amazingness He is going to do in Orange County, while over 200 YWAMers from all across the world are joining to catch the wave of vision that God has been sharing to many people.

I brought my laptop along with me to help blog the process of  what God is doing in Orange County, through my perspective.

A picture I found off flickr.com

God is doing a NEW THING

I don’t know where to begin this blog post. Since I have been back from Africa I have been steadily busy. The Summer Quarter at YWAM Denver began June 27th, one month ago. I am staffing the School of Biblical Foundations (SBF) along with being the Hospitality Assistant. One of the requirements for the SBF students is to read through the Bible in chronological order within the 3 months of the school, I am trying to read along with them. It’s about 16 chapters a day. It is really good, but I must admit that I am behind on the reading. However, I am confident that I will catch up and I will have completed reading the Bible by the end of the quarter.

I have had a busy summer and looking ahead it is just going to get even more busy. My 26th birthday is in 3 weeks, and the SBF students and staff will drive to Orange County at about 3AM. We are partnering with an evangelism outreach from Kona, Hawaii and we will be out there for 2 weeks. I need to raise $100 for food and a bus pass. It’s not much, but if YOU are reading this and would like to donate please email me at becca81385@gmail.com and then I will be able to help you figure out a way that works out best for you.

I do not know much about the outreach to Orange County, California except that I will praying for people and that it will be like a modern day tent service and modern day Billy Gram street evangelism. We are sending all of the students and most of the staff to be out at Huntington Beach to see God pour out His spirit and bring REVIVAL. I don’t know if you feel it where you are, but God is doing a NEW THING!

Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
   the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
   that they may proclaim my praise.

--- Isaiah 43:18-21

Still Processing ...

Well, I am back from Africa. I am currently on vacation at my parents house, in Illinois. A few days ago I forced myself to sit and process the past 6 months. It’s not that it was a terrible time  of my life, but probably one of the best times of my life. I gave so much of myself to the girls I discipled in my small group, and while in Africa for 7 weeks I continued to give of myself to other students as well.

It was an amazing time of my life and a growing time. I would love to write this update to you, my readers, and tell you of some crazy awesome memories and/or share pictures. But right now, that will have to wait until another day. I need to process more, because when I processed a few days ago, it wasn’t enough. I journaled for 3 hours at Starbucks, but it was just the surface, and I have much more that I need to reflect and even dig into while I  ask God some tough questions.

However, I will say that Africa is beautiful. I recommend anyone and everyone to go to South Africa… it is stunning with beauty. The land is stunning and the people are friendly with beautiful accents. Mozambique is also beautiful, just in a deeper way. The people are friendly and hospitable, and the land is natural with very few concrete buildings (compared to the US).

Also, I have learned that I love 3rd world countries. There is something about the simplicity and joy in the little things, that excites my spirit. Every morning when I would wake up, I would be  excited and have an expectation for God to do miracles and amazing things, even if unseen by human eyes. I also enjoyed, sometimes, the challenge of the language barrier. I loved that the people there are so hungry for the truth. I love the relationships that I began there and in South Africa, of which I miss tremendously.

Maybe next time will be an update about Africa…

AFRICA!!!!!!

I have exciting news that I am eager to share with you. I AM GOING TO AFRICA!!!!! Ever since I did my Discipleship Training School (DTS) and did my outreach phase/missions trip 4 years ago, I knew that I wanted to be a missionary. But I had no specific idea where I wanted to go, so I began asking God 3 questions: Where, What, and Why. I soon realized that I had a huge heart for Africa, specifically the Southern part of Africa. As I continued to ask God about what I was called to do in Africa he showed me that I come alive when I hear about AIDS and HIV in Africa. Then I asked the final question, “Why?” and the answer is bring faith to the faithless, hope to the hopeless, and to love the unloved – simply as Jesus did and continues to do. Then God gave me the verse 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I believe this dream and passion to go to Africa started when I was around the age of 8 when I watched the movie The Lion King. I know now that Africa is not like the movie, but I still get excited thinking about when I will be going there.

So you may be asking, how did you get chosen to go to Africa? Every small group leader in the DTS gets put into consideration as to who will assist the outreach leader. In the DTS that I am staffing, there are 2 outreach locations for the students to choose from. One is to China and the other is to Africa. I talked to one person responsible for choosing outreach assistants and told them that I would love to go to Africa. A couple weeks later they approached me and asked if I would like to go to Africa. I screamed and said, YES!!!!! There will be 23 students going to Africa, and for every 5 students 1 staff person needs to go. So I will be assisting the leader along with a married couple and their 2 year old son.

The next question that may have crossed your mind is, where will you be going in Africa, and what will you be doing? We will be going to Johannesburg, South Africa for 3 weeks. Then we will be going to Dondo, Mozambique for the final 4 weeks of the outreach. In South Africa we will be working in the slums and also with AIDS babies. While in Mozambique we will be working with Heidi Baker’s ministry called Iris Ministries. This specific location that we will be at is boy’s orphanage ages between 7-18years old. We will be working hard on this trip by helping with farming, plowing fields, leading church services, loving on the widows and orphans, and many other things.

There are many more details to be worked out and our plane tickets will be bought soon. The tentative dates that we will be traveling will be from March 28^th – May 7^th. After arriving back in Denver, Colorado the students will go through a week of teaching and debrief times as well. They will then graduate on May 20^th and will go back to their homes.

My current plan after the students graduate is to take a 3 week vacation where I will be spending about a week in Arvada, CO with my parents and then flying back home to Illinois with them for about 2 weeks. I’ve been wanting to spend more than a week in Illinois, because 1 week is not enough time to see family and friends. I am also hoping to share with friends, family, and supporters about specific stories and things that God did in my life during this trip. I believe that while I am in Africa God will give me answers to questions that I have been asking Him for awhile now.

I will try to send out another update before I leave for Africa.

Update and Plans

It’s the start of a new week and the Compassion DTS is 1/3 of its way through the lecture phase. I am so excited about the willingness that the students have been putting forth and God is doing so many things in their lives and healing them from things in their past. God is so amazing.

So here is what in store for me and the DTS…

It’s the beginning of week 4 for the Compassion DTS and during week 6 the Musicians DTS that I staffed last quarter will be back from Norway and Mexico. I am so excited to hear their testimonies, what God spoke to them, and what is next in their lives. They will be sharing with this current DTS about the things that God did while they were on outreach.
For week 8, the Compassion DTS and the staff will be traveling to LA for a week to do ministry at the Dream Center. I am really looking forward to God using the students and preparing them for their 7 week outreach to another country.

The outreach opportunities for the DTS are China and Mozambique, Africa. Since I am on staff with the DTS, I have a chance to go. I would love to go to Mozambique, because I have such a heart for Africa and Mozambique is one of the places that I have wanted to go to. I also have a heart to do ministry with women and children, and that is what the DTS will be doing in Mozambique.

Also, God has been teaching me to immediately obey Him, when I feel his prompting. It’s been good through cause when I obey, God uses me in great ways and to speak words of encouragement to people. It’s so good.

Growth and Maybe More...

It’s 2011 and I hardly have any insight from God as to what this year will bring for me. Usually by this time I have a word or some insight into the new year, but this time… not much. I have myself to blame. I have been procrastinating in asking God questions about this next year, because honestly I was extremely disappointed in the month of December. The plans and ideas that I had thought I heard from God did not come true as I had envisioned they would. Now I know last year was a year of “Great Expectations”  and “Big Things”, even if they did not meet my own expectations and desires. But my disappointment is in the past and it’s a new year, so I am moving on.

I really believe that this year is going to be a year of tremendous growth. At first this sounds exciting and new, but as I have learned in the last 3 months – growth does not come easy. You have to choose to grow and be stretched. You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. You have to be sensitive to God’s leading, because He will lead you to places where you will not fall or stumble. He is a safe place of refuge. Growing is not an easy thing, and it doesn’t always come naturally. But the end result is life, nourishment, and fulfillment.

All I know for this new year, is that the journey is going to be difficult at times, but the end result is going to be fruitful.

 

Dictionary.com says growth is - something that has grown or developed by or as if by a natural process.

I Don't Want To Ride On Somebody Else's Passion

I don't wanna ride on somebody else's passion

I don't wanna find that I am just dry bones

I want to burn with unquenchable fire

Deep down inside

See it coming alive

Help me find my own flame

Help me find my own fire

I want the real thing

I want your burning desire

--- song "Help Me Find My Own Flame" by Will Reagan and United Pursuit

Ever since I first heard this song a couple months ago, I've had a stirring in my heart for something more. Something much more. I believe that I have a unique calling on my life, and that my own flame is to go to South Africa and help people with Aids through health care and music. I feel a stirring in my heart to get more training, either do more YWAM school's or go back to college. I am not sure if I will become a Nurse some day or if I will just get training fit specifically for the ministry that I feel I have been specifically called to do.

As for now, I am going to be on staff with YWAM for another year and maybe even for another year after that. I am unsure what my future holds, but I know that it holds in the hands of my God.

TRUST

It’s a typical fall day today. It’s cloudy, breezy, cool, and most of the leaves have fallen off trees as they layer the ground with a new shade of brown. Much like the changing of seasons, I have recently discovered a new layer of change in my life. I am growing and changing with every season, but I have realized that I will soon be entering into a new layer. This layer is something that I am going to have to make a conscious effort to change in my life.

One of the biggest things God told me He was going to do in my life this year was develop trust in my life. I have seen how I have had to learn how to trust God, first. Then I have learned that I need to trust others. And now I need to use the two together. I will be soon learning how to trust God when I trust others. I’ve come to the realization that I don’t willingly open myself up to people unless they open up to me first. But those relationships tend to be draining for me because they are one sided relationships. I have realized that I push people away before getting too close, and I don’t let people know how I really feel, especially in moments when I really need a friend. I don’t want to be co-dependent and so I try to deal with things that I am struggling with on my own, or with God’s help. So I am going to try to open myself up more, in hopes that I wont get hurt, and if I do I am going to ask God to help me to continue to open up and trust people more.

The Number of the Day is: 10

 

It’s 10 o’clock at night, on the 10th day of the 10th month in the year of 2010. The air is cold and rain falls from the sky. The wind blows as sounds of cars driving in puddles on the pavement . For me the Autumn season has just begun. Summer will blow it’s warm air through, but will only make an appearance from time to time until Winter makes it’s dramatic entrance.

A sigh of disappointment escapes my mouth. Thoughts of longing and of letting go fill my mind. And as I ponder this thought an epiphany comes to mind!

This is what I have been doing a lot lately. I have been letting go of my dreams and desires to fulfill God’s dreams and desires for me. Some of these dreams I believe are ones God has given to me years ago, but I still need to let those dreams go. It’s hard, but I really believe that in this season of my life God wants all of my heart. He wants all of my thoughts to be about Him. When I think about letting go of my dreams and desires, I cannot help but think of a song by Francesca Battistelli called I’m Letting Go. It speaks volumes to me right now.

Chorus:

I’m letting go of the life I’ve planned for me and my dreams
I’m loosing control of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

2nd Chorus:

I’m letting go of the life I’ve planned for me and my dreams
I’m loosing control of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me

a BIG season

Its the beginning of the Fall Season. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are beginning to change, and the football season has begun.

For me, the new quarter is about to begin with about 105 students arriving on Monday. I am very excited to be staffing my 1st school as a Small Group Leader (SGL). I will be a SGL for the Musician’s Discipleship Training School. I will also be the Hospitality Assistant and helping out with some childcare (babysitting). It will be a busy quarter. With being a SGL, I will be discipling 3 young women throughout their 3 months of teachings. I will be meeting with them once a week for a one-on-one, and we will have Small Group times with all of us together. I am really looking forward to getting to know these women, along with the other people in the Musicians DTS.

On a more personal level, I am expecting highs and lows this season in my life. I am expecting good time and hard times. Now, I know that through the lows and hard times I will grow more and I will learn more, but I am prepared for it to not come “easy” or naturally. I have noticed a pattern of God revealing really significant things to me during seasons like this, and I am anticipating for God to reveal some answers to questions that I’ve had for a while. I am really looking forward to this season in my life, and the BIG things that are going to happen.

Twenty-Five

 

I am twenty-five years old. I am a quarter century old. I am old enough to rent a car without under age fees. I am more beautiful inward and outward than I was a year ago.
As of August 13th, I am twenty-five years old!

I am really excited for this year of my life. I feel in my spirit that big things are going to happen this year. I am going to go through a huge amount of growth and maturity. It’s going to be good.

At twenty-five, I would have thought that I’d be married, have at least one child, and possibly live the American Dream.  But at twenty-five I am single, have no children, am living on my own in a suburb in Denver, Colorado, working for a non-profit organization, trusting in God to provide for my finances, and living off of faith for God to provide all of my needs. It is wonderful. God knew what was best. I love my life!

This year I spent my birthday away from my family. It was hard at times, but I have such great friends and people that are like family here. I think because of these people, I had the best birthday in long time. I felt so loved and encouraged. I spent some quality time with several friends and went to downtown Denver for a girls night out. I am so blessed.

I am looking forward to what God has planned during my year of being twenty-five years old, and I am prepared to let Him use me in any way He has planned.

Happy Father’s Day

I’m a little late in writing this blog, but just as I acknowledged my mom – I want to acknowledge my dad.

My dad and I have a funny relationship. We are so much alike that we butt heads at times, and other times we think and see things alike.

As I have matured and grown up, I have noticed how much of God’s character I see in my dad. My dad provides for me when I need him to. If I get into a jam and need money, he is there to provide. If I need new clothes or a new pair of shoes, he is there to provide. If I need some family time; he is there. If I need advice, he is there. And if I need a hug, he is definitely there.

My dad sometimes appears to be “tough guy” by showing little emotion, but deep down he has such a soft, gentle, and compassionate heart. He often befriends the “underdog” even if that means an actual animal. Several times my mom and I have tried to convince my dad to get another animal (even when we had 4 cats and 3 dogs inside the house). But his answer was always, “NO!”. I now realize why he his answer was always no. It was because when he commits to something he sticks to it. Also, the animal that he seemed to like the most was the one that didn’t get as much attention.

My dad is witty and has random moments of silliness. He even likes to try to embarrass me. For example, I will be walking around in Wal-Mart with my parents and I may go off to look at something in a nearby isle. Sometimes my dad will shout “Rebecca! Rebecca!”, when he knows exactly where I am. I have learned to ignore him because it makes him look like a weirdo. I have also learned to follow his example, so once in a while I will be the weirdo yelling his name in a store.

I really appreciate my dad for all of the times that he could have given up during hard times. But he remained strong and continued to move forward. My dad has endured much in his life and made sure that my brother and I were always taken care of and that history did not repeat itself.

My dad is humble , loving, kind, generous, sensitive, perceptive, funny, honest, charismatic, loved by everyone he comes in contact with, and so much more.

I LOVE MY DAD!