Fall Kick-Off... in High Gear!!

Life is very funny. Never turns out as you think it will. And people never end up being the people you have made them out to be. Or maybe they always were them, and you never wanted to see them that way.

For months, even a few years I have been desiring with my whole heart to move back east and have a long and successful career in New York City. I am not opposed to this idea still, and do apply for jobs as they arise. I just can't keep forking over the dough to pay for myself to be flown out for interviews. I am also trying to be more open minded and applying for jobs here in California in the Bay Area and Los Angeles (yes, I know, I do hate LA). I know God is putting it on my heart to be here for my family, where I can get to them if need be, and vise versa. Right now, I do have a job that is not too bad, and I work once a week at the gym and get free membership in exchange (oh Dave Ramsey, you would be proud of me).

I am continue my perseverance to take my goals by the horns and accomplish them, I just need to have the understanding that God does not work on my time table, but his. So this is a prayer for me along with praying for my family.

Over the past month I have had the opportunity to connect with several people I haven't seen in years, or even in just a year. And all surprising outcomes. I went back to Frazier Park in August, and I was surprised how well I was connecting with some of the people I didn't connect with much "back in the day". Thanks to Facebook, MySpace, and whatnot have reconnected in that way, but something about face-to-face, made the difference. It was the most fun I have had up there in all the 8 years I had been gone. I think I finally saw it as a place my life was, and not is. A place that got me to where I am now. Cause if I had not been in Frazier, I would never have come up for camp through Lebec Church, and found out about the Central Coast, and probably wouldn't have persued it... or the boy that was here either (okay, that part--- yeah would take that back). And then connecting with a friend from college... and we just weren't meshing. I can't figure out why. She said I was "different". And I think life has just calmed me down a little bit, made me more of a realist, but also took me back to the core of who I have always been "Blunt, to the point, and not being a doormat". Just learning to stand my ground, and to be true to me. Loving others, but not letting it be an open invitation for abuse, dishonesty, cheating... and well... I am still working on forgiving a couple people who really hurt me... and I want to want to forgive them, so I know that is the first step really... and I know in time it will happen... with God's help.

I appreciate all the prayers I have had from those of you who either know the whole deal with what's going on in my life, and those who just know bits and pieces. I am grateful to those of you who pray when maybe I have said nothing, but God has laid it on your heart. I am reminded as we now are in fast approaching holiday mode (I know, can you believe it?!?! already?!?!).

As we approach Fall my prayer requests are these:

Continue to pray for my brother, for his hardened heart. That God would continue to soften it and for him to truly know God and have a real relationship with him which will in turn deal with alot of the issues he is going through and facing, and for his first semester of college after taking a year off school.

Continue to keep my mom in prayer. God knows the details. I know she is truly blessed by the outpouring of love through prayer-- especially for those who don't know her praying!

Praying for a healthy Fall. I always seem to get sick this time of year around my birthday, so prayer for a new tradition of not being sick!

Prayer for the ministries at church. Youth Ministries I am blessed to be serving in. Prayer for the leaders, Youth Pastor and his wife as we prepare for Fall and everything that goes with it to be available to the students and to  recognize those divine appointments with them! Prayer for the enemy to not divide our group and cause destruction. More unity for us! Prayer as our high schoolers go through Financial Peace (Generation Change) this season! For it to be fruitful and beneficial to them!

Prayer as I continue to seek job direction. To not be discouraged, but to trust God to meet my needs in his time, and know where ever I am. He will use me! And prayer for my roommates too. For health and to not get too stressed out with work and obligations. That we would find times of rest, and grow closer to one another, and be more loving. Prayer for those moments of discouragement to be lifted up and reminded of our blessings!

Thank you! And thanks for always being faithful friends and praying. It has been a tough few months for me with things going on.... that seem to be out of my control, and I think I need to better realize that.