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

Peace

One thing that I find interesting is that I can't believe how hard it is for some people to be nice or respectful to someone else. This past week I was the host in one of our elementary classrooms at church and we talked about peace.  To help children understand peace, we say that peace is proving that you care more about others than winning an argument.  How true is that? If we fully understood that as adults and tried to live in peace with one another our world would be very different. 

When I see the children in the classrooms most of the time I think, "Man, if only the could just get it (the lesson) and know about God's love (Jesus) their lives would changed forever! They wouldn't have to make all the stupid mistakes that everyone else has made growing-up. They could live a great life starting now."  These children can learn to live at peace with one another starting now, this is a task that the majority of adults are not able to do. It amazes me sometimes how often we, as humans, are unkind and are disrespectful to one another.

What if we all tried to live in peace with one another by not let any arguments or misunderstandings end on a bad note? What would the world be like if we worked through our issues instead of around them? What if we would never let the sun go down on our anger?

I am Blessed...

My life has not always been easy but it has also never been very hard, sometimes I just make it hard. Last night, I spent some time reflecting on the Lord and His faithfulness and I have found that the Lord has continuely blessed my efforts to follow Him (I often need to be reminded of this). It is in the little things in life that I realize that I am blessed. I can see my blessings in my family, friends, and all around me. I see His blessings in the sunrise and the sunset. A friend of mine once said that it is like each day the Lord is continuing to paint a beautiful painting just for us.

Each year has been a journey for me and each year I am learning new things. Even in the hardships and trials I can see the Lord. There have been times that I have wanted to give up and just throw in the towel but each time the Lord is there with me saying, "You can do this. I am not leaving you. Just do your best." It is when I strive to do my best that I can see the Lord blessing my efforts.

Last night, I was still looking over things for Costa Rica and I thought for a moment. "What in the world am I doing? I can't do this." Then it was like the Lord said, "You're right you can't, but we can. You just might have to work a bit harder." I know that with some extra work I will go to Costa Rica! Once I set my mind on something there is nothing that can stop me from doing what I feel I should do or what I feel I need to do. I know the Lord is helping me because even though I am stressed about making plans for Costa Rica I still feel completely at peace about everything. Everything is going to be okay the Lord is with me and He is my strength.