A Strange Coincidence....Time for some Isolation

So shortly after I wrote the blog about choosing happiness my happiness has been put to the test. For the past couple days, I have been in a strange mood. I have been struggling to stay happy. Do you know what this means? It is time for some isolation.

Like I have said before, I have been very busy this past month and I have been constantly around people 24/7.  Being that I am not completely an extrovert it has been difficult for me to be around people this much, but yet I know have to do it so I rely on the Lord for patience and strength.

Isolation is an important part of my life and it helps me to stay not only sane but also connected to the Lord. Isolation helps me to keep my priorities straight and gives me the peace of mind that I need to get through life (which I believe comes from Lord). During my isolation time, I love to read, reflect, and pray. Praying out loud is one of my favorite things because it is like I am just having a conversation with God. I just speak to Him as if He is right next to me and I don't hold anything back (this has to be done in isolation otherwise people think you are crazy, haha). I share with Him all of my frustrations from my day, my joys, and my sorrows. I share with Him all of my hopes and dreams even though I already know that He knows them I still like to talk about them with Him.

 I believe that a time of devotion or isolation is good for the heart. There are many times in the Bible when Jesus would go off alone to pray. God uses those moments to have intimate conversations with His people, take for example Moses, Mary, Joseph, and the disciples.

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I have reported to blogger that there are links being put into my blogs without permission so for now please do not click on any words that appear to be connected to a link, thanks.

I Choose HAPPINESS...

Think about all of the choices that we are faced with every day.....we can choose what to wear, we can choose whether or not to go into work, we can choose to argue with someone, we can choose to... the list can go on and on! Each morning when you get out of bed there are a million choices that are waiting for you. We have been blessed with the freedom to make our own choices in life.

One choice that we can make is the choice to be happy. God has also given us the opportunity to choose to be happy! No one can make that choice for you. How far are you willing to go to be happy? Are you willing to forgive the person who just cut you off on the highway? Are you willing to forgive that rude person at work? Or how about that one person who has hurt you the most in your life? So the question is how far are you willing to go to be happy? What will you choose?

I choose happiness! I know that my life is not defined by mistakes or by those around me.


 No one in the world can choose for you to be happy, you have to go after it with all your heart. In life we all make our own choices.

Updates....

I am staying in Wisconsin at least until December of this year and then hopefully in October I will find out if I am staying until March.  I am learning so much through this ministry at RiverGlen and all of the things that I expected to learn I have learned, but one thing that I did not expect to learn more about is about how to manage a ministry and how to work/manage people. I am learning a ton about management! Which is great because in most things I am a natural leader but I am hesitate when it comes to managing people because usually I tend to be too soft or too strong so I am finding a lot of balances right now on how to manage a ministry and it's volunteers. I am also learning a lot from those around me who have been in ministry longer. There is a lot of wisdom to be found in the people that surround me every day.

I have also been constantly making a lot of new friends which has been great! I am really starting to feel at home here and I love it! I have also been keeping very busy. Recently, I have loved having some alone time to just go for a walk, relax, and do some reflecting.

Costa Rica....

I am still making preparations for Costa Rica. Language school has been my focus this year and all of the preparations are starting to fall into place. I am currently focused on raising the funds needed to go to language school (I also have just received a part-time job along with my internship, which allows me to continue to save more money for school). I am planning right now to go to language for 6 months, but if the funds become available I would love to stay an additional 3 months in order to complete all of the programs that The Spanish Language Institute has to offer.

 I was originally not going to be sending out support letters but the more I pray about it and the more I talk to people about it, I found out I would be stupid not to. It is not up to me to decide whether or not people should give to my ministry work, it is between them and their relationship with God so if God puts it on their heart to give then I am going to allow them the opportunity to support me and my ministry work. I was going to try to raise all of the money myself but really I need to put my trust in God that the money will come. I am going to work hard but I am also going to allow others to work along side me to help build my future ministry.  

As far as the application process goes I am at a stand still until December because of  my flight schedule. The application for the school requires me to write down my flight times and I have not yet been able to lock in my flight dates, because most airlines do not allow you to schedule flights that are more than a year away.  I have to wait to book a round trip flight from the USA to Costa Rica until December. This is also because the Costa Rican government will not allow someone to stay longer in the country longer than 4 months without a ticket that proves that you plan on eventually leaving the country.  Once I get there I can push back my departure flight if needed. 

P.S. To learn more about the language school I will be attending click on my name at the bottom right hand corner.

Everything is going to be all right

I am the kind of person that tends to worry and forget things a lot that is why I always have to be reminded that everything is going to be all right. God is always with us. This is something that is echoed in my favorite song "Every Season" by Nicole Nordeman and this is also what I taught this morning in Sunday School to 3 year olds. God is always with us and He was with Moses when he went to talk to the Pharoah about letting his people go.

Every now and then we all have to be reminded of basic truths, even if it is from the mouths of 3 year olds. No matter how old you are in life, you are never too old to learn.  We are all life-long learners.

Costa Rica Update

Right now, I am trying to find a part-time job in order to raise the money to go to language school (so if you would please pray that I would find a job, I would greatly appreciate it!).  In order to go to Costa Rica, I need to have at least $6,000 (minimum), this cost will cover all of my schooling for 6 months and my housing plus food.

I have not finished filling out my application because I am waiting to secure my flight schedule so that I can put that information on my application within the next 2 months. The application is not due to march but I would like to turn it in as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for God's guidance as I continue to prepare for language school.

P.S. To learn more about the language school I will be attending click on my name at the bottom right hand corner.

Every Season - Nichole Nordeman

This is by far one of my favorite songs! Just listen to the words and let them sink in, and remember that God is with us always no matter what season we are in.

Every Season

Every evening sky, an invitation

To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer


And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn


And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter


And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

Sharing

Right now at work, I have been slowly working on editing two books that are part of a series for kids on becoming a Christian. The last book in the series I have to say is my favorite. In this book, the children are learning how to share their faith with others. Sadly enough, sharing our faith is something that often gets left on the back burner by many church goers.

Sharing our faith is a crucial part in growing in our faith, and by sharing our faith we are allowing others to begin or to continue growing in theirs. The picture that I have attached to this post is from our KidVenture Acts of Kindness (A.O.K) mission trip. For one week, some of the children in our KidVenture children's ministry decided to dedicate their time to helping and serving others in their community. By serving and helping others, the children were able to share their faith with others. Sharing your faith does not always mean using your words, haven't you ever heard that actions speak louder than words? Well, the same is true when it comes to your faith.

Don't just talk about your faith, go out and act on your faith. Many people crave authenticity, they crave something real. In a world, where lies are common and promises are broken, actions matter. It is through your actions that people can see who you really are and what your priorities in life are. Being authentic means that you are honest and trustworthy. Be authentic, be honest, be trustworthy in your faith and share it with others. Be a light in a broken world.

I hardly ever read the news anymore because I just find it so depressing and heartbreaking, but today I decided to catch-up and see what is going on in the world. My heart was broken when I read about all the violence, corruption, greed, and hatred that is in the world and that is even in my own "backyard".  Despite all of the negativity, I try to continue to be an optimist in believing that the world can really change.  These children in this picture above are apart of that change. I am a part of that change and you can be a part of that change as well. We need to step up and step out in faith. 

"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words" - St. Francis of Assisi