I've been changed to bring change

Tonight I attended a woman's ministry event at Ada Bible church called Heart's Alive! They hold this event the first Tuesday of every month during the school calendar year. At each Heart's Alive! there is food, brought in pot luck fashion by attendees, worship music, and a keynote speaker. And the best detail of all, is it is an ALL women event (sorry boys).

Tonight's speaker was Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines. The topic she spoke on was "Change." Listening to her speech could not have come at a better time in my life. Shauna shared from her heart, the change that she has gone through the past three years, and I totally related. Although my changes do not look the same, regardless they are still changes. A few things Shauna mentioned stuck out to me, and really struck a cord with how I am feeling and how events in my life are rolling out right now.

First of all, Shauna wrote a beautiful analogy of the two ways people react to change. "It is like standing in the water at the lake shore and you either lock your knees and let the wave hit you in the face, or you relax and trust the water as you move with the wave." I have resisted leaving Michigan for 2 months now, and the wave has totally smacked me in the face! I have a job that does not pay the bills, and to add to it I received a $60 parking ticket in Chicago and $75 in overdraft fees from the bank because of 2 automatic withdrawals that came out of my account at a time I was not expecting them to automatically withdraw from my account, at the same time I used my debit card to fill up my gas tank to come home = 3 transactions at $25 overdraft fee per transaction=>$75.

One might look at that and say, "Well then you shouldn't have gone to Chicago." And to you poor pessimist I say, not even bad finances can take away the glory of God I saw and felt while I was there. It was amazing being taken out of my city, to view my everyday life from a different angle, to reflect and study and meditate on His Word. Not even the poor finances can take away the Peace I felt. The poor finances are just a catalyst to my decision to leave Michigan so quickly now. See now, I have a job pretty much waiting for me in San Diego. I stopped fighting the wave and resisting God's call to me. I relaxed, and laid down in the water to trust God and where He is guiding me.

Second, I love my church family at Ada. I love how my Monday night study can make laugh as we throw quick whips at each other, and still somehow be fully focused on God. I love how Union on Tuesday nights challenges me to pursue Holiness in a world that goes completely against it. I love how Lifeline on Wednesdays... I just love my youth group girls, "Fia Fia Siva!" and how they love me and care so much for me. They are really like having 4 little sisters... which can be challenging at times, but I love them! I love the other Lifeline leaders; I feel like I cry every single Wednesday... either from pouring my heart out to them, as they are so gracious to listen, or crying from laughing so hard because they are that hilarious! I love my meetings with Iva, how we can talk pop culture and just listening to her stories are amazing, the woman is truly a woman of God's own heart, with so much wisdom. I love meeting with Jen and how we break every single mentoring rule, but we are able to laugh and share so much. Jen truly has a heart of gold, and I am so pleased and blessed to have been able to spend so much time with her over the last 3 months. I will deeply miss my family... the first Christian family I have been apart of. Ada has been a complete blessing to me; I pray that I may now take those blessings to everyone I meet! And that I may find a new community in California that will help me to grow even more in my love and hunger for Jesus and godly wisdom.

Third, there a song by Aaron Niequist, called Changed. I first heard this song around the time of my baptism and loved it! Well, they played it tonight at Heart's Alive! and I would like to share it here as I continue on with my journey and walk with God.

Music, oh how I love thee

I love music, it speaks to my soul. Why can I not make it!? I write poetry.. sometimes when I am really, really depressed. There is just something about the sound of a piano key, guitar strum or beat on the drum (see the Dr. Seuss there?!) that just gets to me. Lately I have been feeling:

Lauren Solomon- The Anticipation -she is an amazing pianist and my best friend!

This World Fair- Don't Make Me Wait
This World Fair- This Morning

Mary Mary- Get Up

Matthew West- Motions

Mat Kearney- Closer to Love

Kanye West- Love Lockdown - sometimes I just need a good beat to dance to, when nobody is watching...

Lady GaGa- Poker Face

T.I. & Justin Timberlake- Dead & Gone

Kate Nash- I just want your kiss boy

Kings of Leon- McFearless
Kings of Leon- On Call

Jason Mraz- A Beautiful Mess
Jason Mraz- Remedy
Jason Mraz- You & I Both

Toby Mac- Burn for You
Toby Mac- Lose My Soul

Enjoy! Bon appetite!

Pinkle Yourself

This guy... makes phenomenal music! My friend Lauren is a friend of his friend.. haha, confusing I know, but she introduced it to me and I love it! Especially Neroo & Rounder than an Orange Peel. Check, check, check, check it out! @ http://www.pinklemusic.com/music.html or just click the title above.

GoldRush

San Diego, California.....

?!?!?!Really?

I grew up in California, and my absolute favorite beaches were in San Diego.. actually thee beach is Mission Beach. I rarely ever could go there since I lived in the High Desert, 75 + miles away (2-3 hours for you Michigan folk). Right now, I have the opportunity to move to Pacific Beach (right next to MB). There are a million hospitality jobs in San Diego available for the summer season coming up. I am struggling with my restaurant job in Michigan. All of my experience is in hotels, and San Diego has the jobs available. This could get me back to school to complete my degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Lodging emphasis. Really, I just want to be a finisher; one characteristic I never, ever wanted to be known for is a 'quitter.' Honestly, I don't see the rest of my life working in a hotel, but if that is what is going to pay the bills for now, then so be it.

What's the problem then? I have a wonderful church in Michigan. I am there 4 nights a week, I have relationships built; the best relationships of my life. I have a youth group I lead of four 12 year-old girls. This church is my first church, my home church. However, I find myself curious of the whole church, that is the whole community of Jesus followers. I just have the conservative West Michigan perspective. I see that my friends here are sad when I mention leaving. It is not that I want to leave anybody, but I dream of exploring and discovering more. More of the world, more of the Bible, more of God, more of me.

When I first brought up moving, I really wanted to move out of the country to Australia. I resisted and the door shut! Now I have this opportunity for San Diego and I am going. No need for acceptance, no need for approval from man. I pray and I pray and I read and I read and God answers:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure." Ecclesiastes 8:5

It is time to leave Michigan. I am not running away; I would have been gone 7 months ago already, if I were. The funny thing about it is, I know I will have a great time in San Diego, more peace with the financial crisis I am in right now; but I am already looking forward to coming back to Michigan for Ben & Jen's wedding in July!!

Welcome to a Smile That's Contagious

Allow me to introduce myself. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. My name is Sabrina; I am 22 years old. I have a lot on my mind every second of every day. The last two years of my life has been change after change, after change, after change. Last September I joined a woman's Bible study at my church. Week in and week out I pour my heart out to those women, and after 6 months one turned to me and said, "Your life moves at the speed of sound! Every week there is something new and so different going on." She is so right. I replied to her, "You should try living it!" And yet, through all of the trials and changes, somehow when people look at me they seem to say, "Your smile is so contagious." I am so honored and humbled in those moments, because it is not me they see, it is Jesus. Another very good friend of mine said it better recommending to me the following verses:

1 Peter 1:3-9

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

So here I am, with a smile that's contagious and a life the moves at the speed of sound.. Sonic BOOM!!!