What a year so far! I just realized that this is my first time writing since Costa Rica! Life has been extremely busy and crazy this past year. As most of you know I moved back to California when I got the job as Coordinator of Local/Global Outreach at Vanguard University (where I previously worked for almost 10 years in the Communication department). It has been quite an adjustment living back in the states and having a job, one of which is quite demanding. My job is incredible, and I am so blessed to have it, but it requires a lot of hours! I am responsible for all mission trips and local ministries at the university and have seen God do incredible things so far. We have 11 short term summer trips going out all over the world (I will be personally be going to Ethiopia on May 8th for 3 weeks) and then 2 spring break trips to San Francisco and Mexico (I led this one, see picture above).
One thing that the Lord has been teaching me continuously this year (I haven’t learned it fully yet!) is to put my full trust in Him and not worry. He has my days numbered out and He has plans for my life that I don’t even know about, but I have to trust. My job is an interim position and so I still don’t know what is ahead for me. My contract ends August 1st and so I am waiting to find out if they will extend my contract or end it. I have been offered to go back to Costa Rica with YWAM and help staff the September DTS and so I am praying about that as an option. Please keep me in prayer, that the Lord will be clear in what He wants me to do next year. Another lesson is to balance my life, put Christ first and rest in Him. I am working right now about 60 hours/week, sometimes weekends and I feel very tired. I am learning to find that rest in Him and make sure I don’t let little things distract me from what God is doing among the students in Vanguard. I encourage you if you are in my same place, where life just seems rushed always and you are just fulfilling deadlines all the time, take a moment to remember the God who created you and wants to speak with you, strengthen you and give you a greater purpose than just fulfiling tasks! I am realizing that as I get caught up in the rat race of life I forget about the purpose that God has me at the university for, being there for students/people.
This morning I learned something else! I woke up and decided to go to Rock Harbor Church. I really believe that the Holy Spirit led me there this morning as the Lord spoke to me in such an amazing way. The message series they are going through is on “More”, the abundant life that God has for us who are called His followers. We have probably all heard the scriptures, John 10:10, “I (Christ) have come that they may have life and have it to the fullest”, or Luke 11:13…”so if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” They came alive to me in a new way today! The pastor challenged us with Luke 11:13 and said fill in the blank with what you want, the greatest desires of your heart and what would you say? In other words, “so if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the your heavenly father give___________ to those who ask Him.” Many times living in this world the things that the world values become my values too, afterall the American slogan is “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” I realized when the pastor asked that phrase the thing that I long for most in this moment is to have a husband, which is not a bad thing in and of itself. I want a family, I want to have enough money to enjoy my life, I want a good career, but is this what Christ came for us to have? He said the very BEST that God can give us is the Holy Spirit, which is what the scriptures says! Jesus says in John 14: 12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father.” Why so many times do we as Christ followers live lives just like the rest of the world? Why don’t we see the greater things? I remember back to last year living in Costa Rica and the many ways I would see God move in my life and in the lives of others and I want that so badly here! I want to live a life like the disciples in the Bible and even like Jesus! The only way we can live this abundant life is through the Holy Spirit! He is the greatest gift that our Father can give us! I feel like this was a new revelation for me. Instead of seeking God (Luke 11) for things and the desires of this world, asking Him for His Holy Spirit and more of Him in my life! The true challenge there is when we ask for more of Him, we are saying less of me. I say that today….God give me more of you and help me to decrease that you may increase!
