All Things New

Week three and God continues to surprise me and bless me more than I could possibly imagine! A week ago I had the chance to go to a friend's family reunion in Kansas. I took a hay rake ride, rode a horse, shot a gun, and enjoyed meeting some great people.

This past week I also got to go to a Salt Dogs game!

I do love baseball:-) And I hope to continue to take every experience presented to me. I am still learning to pace myself. I am learning when I need to rest and what healthy rest looks like. I am trying find a rhythm of life that fits and both challenges and grows my faith. I am making mistakes and I hope learning from them. I mean, isn't that what life is all about?

Dang it! I'm Still a Perfectionist!

Two weeks in an d God is already teaching me so much! Low and behold I am still a perfectionist and when the head pastor asked me, "What about this first full week has made you nervous or hesitant?" The answer surprised me....I am not nervous about getting up in front of the church and sharing my testimony, (did that the first Sunday). I am not nervous about teaching a class, (did that on my first Tuesday)...but I seem to have this overwhelming desire to be GREAT at all these tasks right off the bat.

Well guess what? I'm not going to be seasoned on my first attempt at ministry, so why am I putting so much pressure on myself? Oh yeah, I'm crazy and I think I need to prove my calling...maybe even prove my calling to myself. Here is the deal. GOD CALLED ME! I have nothing to prove because it is not in my own strength that I need to live this life of ministry! DUH! But in my first few weeks I found myself trying to be the best in my own strength. In the words of Professor Bruckner I have a divided heart...my head and my heart are not connected and I need to remember that it is not about me...it is about Jesus!

So with humility and a sense of hope I look forward to the lessons God has in store for me this year. I am so thankful for what He has already taught me and reminded me here in Ceresco. He continues to bless me with amazing people and new friends. On top of that I have found some excellent coffee shops:-) I can't wait to see what this year has in store and I am excited to be dependent on HIM and not myself. Bring it on mistakes! I know I can learn from you!

Oh, and here is a new favorite caffeinated watering hole!

One Week in!

One week in and already God is teaching me so much and showing me love through so many amazing people! The community here in Ceresco has welcomed me with open arms and I hope to serve them faithful and with my whole heart throughout the year. Just this week I have been praying through a Rule of Life and ministry goals for the year's internship. My Rule of Life is to be intentional and purposeful in Devotion/Confession, Action (living out my faith), Discipline/Stewardship, and Rest. Here are my ministry goals: 1) To grow in my identity as a pastor 2) Develop in my preaching and worship leading abilities 3) To live out a “Rule of Life” finding a rhythm in ministry 4) To take every opportunity presented to experience rural culture 5) Examine and reflect on the gifts God has given me and how He has called me to ministry Tell me what you think:-)

I moved to Nebraska!

Welcome to God's country! That is what it felt like as I drove further and further from the city of Chicago and embarked on my journey into pastoral ministry. This next year I am blessed to be able to serve in the midst of an amazing church body in Ceresco Nebraska. Never heard of it? Well, you SHOULD! It is beautiful here and the people are wonderful. I arrived here on my 28th birthday and not only was I greeted with 20 people to unload my car, but then an additional 30 showed up to throw me a birthday party! I have never had such a birth in my life. While there are aspects of this year that intimidate and scare me, I already feel loved and accepted and am so excited to see what God has in store:-) I am moving away from a community in Chicago that has blessed me, loved me, challenged me, and helped me to grow. Yet, with each person that I meet here in Ceresco I know that description is true here as well. Each week I hope to share with whoever is interested I will be updating this blog and sharing a bit of how I see God moving in this place. I hope you will join me for this ride!

Also: I am attempting to run/walk at least a mile a day this year and share how I have seen God in those times as well. Here is this week: July 30th: Run with Amy where God showed me the blessing of a neighborhood in a big city July 31st: tour of Ceresco with Pastor Jodi where I saw God in the community here August 1st: Run with Ben & Elise where I saw the blessing of God through friends on this journey August 2nd: Walk through the country where I saw God EVERYWHERE!

I can not do any of this without you, I do all of this for you, and I am here because of you!

Shout out to my Jesus! Who is soooo good! Who is sovereign and good and blesses me though I deserve nothing from Him. Somehow I find myself in His favor and I am so thankful that my heart just wants to BURST!!!!!!!

In the good times, in the bad, in the joyous, in the hard, He is always good, never changing, and always sovereign! I am just blown away by his grace and mercy every day and the fact that he answers prayers before we can pray them and provides for each and every one of our needs when it is His timing:-)

For His glory, for His kingdom, and for a life lived for Him I am going to seminary in the Fall...and with a full scholarship:-)...all because of HIM!

So, though it is raining here in Chicago, I feel the sun shining down on me and want to thank God who is the provider of all things! the King or kings, my Jesus!

10/10/10....Are you in?

http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1104489&pg=personal&fr_id=1180

That's right...I'm still crazy and some how thought it logical to run another marathon!

BUT THIS TIME I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

I'm running for World Vision. A great organization that provides clean drinking water to those in need in Africa:-)

Check out my World Vision homepage and please consider partnering with me in raising money!

I can't do this without you!

Silly girl antics:-)

So I have decided that I like being a silly girl...okay, I don't, but I am, so I'm embracing it!

Translation? Do you every get to that point in your life and think: "I've grown, I've matured, maybe I am finally learning to be wise?" ...then two seconds later you react like a 12 year old? No? Never? Guess I am alone then:-)

But maybe instead of freaking out and beating myself up I can take the opportunity to reflect...look at where God has changed my heart, take a breath, give Him back the burden I keep trying to steal, and trust Him.

Enough said.

So....in the end I am a silly girl. However, I have a great Father who is sovereign even when I am silly and loves throughout my silliness, transforming me along the way.

I embrace the crazy and I embrace my God. The end.