“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”- Stephen J. Weaver

I know it has been awhile since I have blogged, but it kind of hit me today that in just over a month it will be one year since I moved from Maryland back to Lancaster.  Another thing that hit me that it is coming up to 2 years since God directed me to move to Maryland and to be a part of Converge (for those who might not know it’s a leadership geared internship at Sandy Cove Ministries).  One of the things I learned, that I never had thought much about before I was in Converge, was the idea of setting goals and to strive for something more.  Before I went to Converge I just kind of lived life with no expectation, didn’t really strive for anything, and just glided through everyday life.  Anyway, so realizing this little milestone that is coming up I got to thinking back over this past year.  So I started wondering, am I applying everything that I learned from my year there? Have I accomplished any of the goals that I wanted to during the first year of being at home? Do I know where my goal list actually is at? Am I striving for my long term goals? (you should feel honored, you just got a look into my thought process today lol)

Yes, I did know where my goal list was!!  Sad thing, when I actually looked down over it, I realized how many things I didn’t accomplish.  Some things I started but never actually accomplished and then there were some things I never even tried to accomplish.  Thankfully there were some things that were not on the list that I am doing!! But, when I realized all the things on my list that I have left untouched, it was so frustrating.  Why did I waste so much time doing things that didn’t really matter? (for me the big thing is movies/tv L)

So, what now? Well, I can either beat myself up on how much time I wasted or I can just focus on moving forward and readjusting my goals. Today is a new day!! 

So I have a question for those of you who are reading this. What are you going to do with the days God has given you? Are you going to just kind of glide through everyday life or are you going to thrive for something more?  Just a reminder, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” (Thank you Stephen Weaver for grilling this into my head!! J) Make goals and strive for them!!!!

“Most people don’t aim too high and miss.  They aim too low and hit.” –Bob Moawad

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.  I want to have lived the width of it as well.” –Diane Ackerman

Don't Give Up

I’ve been contemplating this question lately.  Why does it feel like the distance between who I am is so far away from the person I want to become?  The funny thing is that even though I know the answer to my own question it doesn’t make me stop thinking it.  It can be discouraging the process of change.  During Converge, I struggled with this same question which is where I actually reazlied the answer.  Growth isn’t easy and it takes many steps to get there…but it will be worth it.  I found this video on at jonacuff.com and thought it was kind of cool.  Maybe it will inspire you to not give up just because it takes a little extra work. 

 

Who do you represent?

Black Friday I had the pleasure of working with my sister and brother-in-law at their Chick-fil-a in Reading at the Berkshire Mall.  Since this was the only time I really worked there I was basically restocking items, washing trays, and refreshing beverages.  I also had the chance of taking some chicken nuggets to some of the stores in the mall. I hate huge crowds so normally when I walk through the mall I try to be invisible because I want to just do what I need to do and be done.  But Friday was a little different.  Walking through the mall carrying food in the CFA uniform people notice you a bit more and noticed where I was working.  Everyone knows CFA and what they stand for.  So for that one day I represented Chick-fil-a.  I knew I had to watch my every move and be careful because I didn’t want to represent CFA badly. 

Realizing this and being cautious about this I was reminded about who I truly represent.  I am a child of the King, the one true God.  I asked myself on Friday do I represent God?  Do I show a true representation of who God is and what he stands for? I was challenged by these thoughts and I hope this challenges you.

Continuing on my Journey of Life

I wanna try something new.  My goal is to keep going with this blog considering the fact that my journey in life didn't end, just because the program did.   Now, I am not the best at this so no judging me based on my horrible grammar, spelling and writing abilities. 

Before Converge, I never really felt I was learning anything in life and was just living day by day. So I guess that is why I want to start using this blog again, to be intentional and focus on what God is teaching me.  In just another week or so I will have been home from my year at Sandy Cove for three months. It is crazy that so much time has gone by.  Recently I have been doing some thinking.  A lot about my experiences at Sandy Cove and how I have changed from my year there and since being home.  So my prayer is that with this Blog I will be open and honest about who I am and the daily lessons I am learning from.  I make no guarantees with how often I will post but I am going to post more often than I did when I was in Converge J. 

Passion of The Christ

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

So I just watched the Passion of the Christ for the very first time this past week. I didn’t know exactly what to expect since I had seen many different productions of Christ’s death.  I do have to say that I thought it was portrayed very well. The whole movie had a totally different intensity than anything I had ever seen before. I expected it to be tough, but it definitely gave me a different perspective on everything. The torture, beating, whipping, pain, betrayal, and temptation were hard to watch. 

I will never forget (at least I hope I never forget) the look of ‘Jesus’ eyes when he was being tortured. Every time he looked at the people in the crowd and the people who were beating him, he always had the look of love and care in his eyes.  I don’t know about you but if I am hurting, I don’t normally love those who are doing the hurting. I have a hard enough time loving those around me. (1 Peter 1:22). So seeing how much ‘Jesus’ loved the people around him, definitely makes me think twice about his love for me and for those around me.

Even though it was hard to watch I am definitely glad that I watched the ‘Passion’ this year and I challenge anyone who has not seen it to see it.  It brings the realization of what happened to a whole different level.

Many New Learning Experiences!

I realize that I haven’t blogged in awhile, so I figure I better fill you guys in on what I am learning.  There has been a lot going on these past several months.  About a month ago we were blessed to have a wonderful family, Morgan and Megan Mcray and their two kids (third due during the summer), join us for the rest of our journey.  I was a little worried leading up to the arrival of the Mcrays not know what they were going to be like, wondering how the change would affect my time at Sandy Cove.  Thankfully God knows what is best and he doesn’t listen to us and what we think is best, because I was very wrong about them.  It turned out to be perfect timing.  We, as a team, were going through some hard times for a couple of months and God knew just what we needed… the Mcrays.  I don’t want to go into detail but I definitely have been learning a lot through the difficult times.  I would love to say that I totally conquered everything but that would be a lie, there is still a lot that I personally have to work on.  One thing I have been learning, slowly, is that I am responsible for how I react.  Living and being around the same people 24/7 is hard.  God made us all with different personalities, backgrounds, childhoods, and passions.  With so many differences there are going to be tensions and annoyances, but it is about how I react to those that makes a difference.  One thing that people who know me well will know is that I hate conflict.  Hate Hate Hate conflict.  But living with others with those differences, it is on me if I flee from the conflict.  So I still hate it but I have dealt with conflict head on a couple times. 

Also something that I have been learning that is still a little fresh is that it is so easy to feel like you have lost control of your life.  Whether it is taking on too much at one time or getting caught up doing many different things that you forget about yourself and making sure that your own life is in order.  I am not going to lie that one of the things that I have slipped out of doing is devotions.  I hate it and I can tell that I have been slacking on them.  Also feeling clustered.  Sometimes you need to declutter your life and your room.  Once that happens it makes you feel like you are actually on top of things.  Also, being at Sandy Cove it is so hard to eat healthy being around all of the junk food (especially when working in the kitchen) and also going out to eat.  We have gotten so sick of the options at Sandy Cove that a lot of times the easiest thing and tastier thing is to just run out say to chick-fil-a or something. 

For those of you who might not know but I figured out what my plans are for after Converge.  I finish Converge June 1 and I will have a week off and then I will be returning to Sandy Cove to work in the snack shack for the summer.  I will be the assistant manager of what they call the 10^th Hole.  It is going to be an incredible experience and very stretching.  I am looking forward to putting to use the skills and leadership training that I am learning through this time in Converge.

Looking back...2011

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

With it being the end of 2011, I was thinking back over the past year and where I was one year ago.  Let me tell you as I think back, I never ever would have thought that I would be where I am now.  One year ago I was working at the same place I had since my senior year in high school.  I felt stuck there after working there four and a half and not knowing what I was supposed to do.  It still amazes me God’s hand on every part of my life even when I didn’t know what was going on.  It’s funny how sometimes we think we know what is going on and God has a totally different plan for us.  Some of you might already know the story but I have a feeling some of you might not.  So here is the story on how I got to where I am.  It still amazes me sometimes on how God worked it all out.

In April or May I decided I wanted to do something different this year.  I thought about going on a mission trip but the one through my church did not work so I tried to come up with something else.  My dad suggested helping out at a camp.  So I decided to help out at Camp Conquest, the camp I went to when I was a kid.  After I applied and got accepted, I realized that the same week I was going to be helping out in the kitchen at camp was the same weekend that my family was taking our annual trip up to New York.  Well I decided to go to camp, and boy I am glad I did.  After Camp, in July, was the first time ever that I thought I might want to do something related to camp or a retreat center. 

I believe God put it on my heart and then he took me to Sandy Cove’s website. That is where I saw the page for Converge.  On the Friday after camp, I find out about Converge and that same day I find out that they were closing our other book store.  On Wed, I go down to Sandy Cove and meet Lindy and take a tour around the property.  One week later, I find out that my manager was going to be losing her job. Also, I get an email from Stephen asking to set up a phone interview.  So basically when something bad was happening with my job, I was finding out great information about Converge.  Now a couple months later I am apart of converge and I am learning so much.  I never ever would have thought a year ago that I would be where I am now.  I love how God had a hand in everything.