Love

The church that I've attended the past two weeks is in a series called "Wired for Love." Today the pastor addressed three different types of love and how they pertain to the development of our relationship with God and with others. It was a good reminder that my love for God leads me into obedience. That it isn't a "good feeling" but a commitment to obey when it is the hardest...when I am fearful, unequipped, lonely, hurt, angry. Romans 12:1-3, serves as the perfect reminder, probably why I chose it as my life verse in those long ago high school days! 

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

In view of God's agape love, his unconditional, altruistic, unselfish, covental love, I choose to love in return through actively living my life in obedience to Him and His will. Not seeking out the acceptance of the world, but living in the truth that I am accepted and loved by God and that He will continue to perfect his love in me. It's not always easy to receive that agape love from our Father when we continually fall short, but it's not about us, it's about Him and His ability to love.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:10-11

Love, it's sacrificial, unconditional. It's not about what you get out of it, but what you do in response to it. My hope is that I let God's love fill my soul, my being...spilling out to the world around me, into the lives of others so that they can experience the agape love that only comes from our loving Heavenly Father.

My OB life so far...

an amazing house to live in

 a back patio for entertaining

housemates that I can call friends

bike rides along the coast

visits with Molly and Corrie

surfing lesson uno

 harbor tour

running along the beach

church shopping

swimming at the YMCA

multiple trips to Target for all the "necessities"

great start to classes

walks along sunset cliffs

working in the charter school grading and tutoring

a behind the scenes visit to SeaWorld

games with new friends

phone conversations with old friends

cooking for one

tasting new wines and old favorites

revealing, getting to know you conversations

time reflecting on God's love and goodness

scheming that next great adventure

"And now children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.

Once you're convinced that he is right and righteous, you'll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God's true children.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! just look at it - we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.

But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him - and in seeing him, become like him. all of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own."

1 John 2:24-3:3

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One month. That is how long I've been away home, living in a new city, far from the familiar and most of all far away from my loving family and friends...it sounds sad, scary, and overwhelming. But, it is far from the truth...in reality, it has been an experience of God's generosity, faithfulness and love. In losing the proximity of family and friends - their love, companionship, laughter - I'm gaining a deeper understanding of God's love for me as his child. The way he's been working in my heart to prepare me for this adventure, the way he has drawn me to himself in times of loneliness, and blessed me with a place to live and great new friends all demonstrate his marvelous love. 

I still feel like a child in my faith, but want to grow...grow into the likeness of Christ, grow into a life that brings glory to God, grow into a story that God is orchestrating to bring about his kingdom here on earth. It's  because of the love that he first had for me, that leads me to love him with my life in return. 

I feel like my head is a jumble of thoughts today...

It's been a whirlwind weekend filled with fun, laughter and reflection. Life is exciting, brimming with adventure...small and big, that I am free to pursue without fear. It's a great way to live, in freedom. Not only in the sense of personal rights and national security, but also in spiritual and personal freedom. Insecurities and fear can exist on so many different levels, keeping us from living the life that God intends...one where we are free to love, fail, confess, and forgive, constantly being transformed "from glory to glory" as we reflect the character of Christ to the world around us. 

It's my desire to live this kind of life where I am an image-bearer of Christ, reflecting his character and glory as I strive to know him more intimately and truthfully. It is a struggle, an impossibility to perfect in this life, but I am free to live in my brokenness, embracing the love, grace and forgiveness freely offered by my God. 

Romans 8 - The solution is life on God's terms (from the Message)

"The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."

"Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them-living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end, attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life."

"But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells-even though you still experience all the limitations of sin-you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you, you are delivered from that dead life."

A verse that really struck me....Romans 8:15

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike 'What's next, Papa?' God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are."

And from Galatians 5...

"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

So what does this life in the Spirit look like where we reflect Christ's glory? Galatians 5 continues...

"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely"

Everyday, I fail to live this free life as I am entangled in my own selfishness, pride and will, but I will continue to strive deeper into understanding of life in Christ, in order to reflect his glory to the world around me. 

Sun Surf Halter

Awhile back, I found some Amy Butler patterns on sale and thought I would try to sew clothing. I've gotten comfortable making aprons, quilts and other small projects, but have always been intimidated by clothes that I would actually wear...because would they even look good enough to wear/fit right? I decided to make the Sun Surf Halter first...you can probably figure out why from the name alone...I was moving to San Diego where I would be in the sun and hopefully surfing :)



It was a pretty simple piece to make although next time I would make it a size smaller and not use quilting cotton as my fabric choice...it just kind of hangs there. However, it's been my go to top for trips to the beach. I polish off the look with my cowboy hat and walk around like I'm on vacation.

Unscented garden - BBC

Click on the link above to view nano-scale structures of atoms that have been created via electroplating. The spontaneous arrangement of atoms resemble larger biological structures...like this fern.

metallic atoms

My favorite is the last picture, which somewhat resembles the microvilli of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed.

made of metallic atoms

microvilli made of living cells

The atomic structures are so small that they can only be seen via electron microscopes. The scanning electron microscope allows for a 3D image as a high energy electron beam is scanned over the object surface and a detector measures the amount of surface secondary electrons that are scattered.

What I made today...

We have some really cute chairs out back, but they were missing seat cushions. I've had it in the back of my head since we got here that I should make some. Well, let me tell you it was much more expensive and harder than I thought! :) But I do like the finished product, so I guess it's worth it. I only made one today...that means I'll have to find time and more foam to make the second this weekend!

It's been a busy week....classes starting, job interviewing,textbook ordering, homework, getting my CA drivers license, and a haircut!

I was a little apprehensive about my classes...I was worried that they would be boring, pedagogical-filled, and non-practical, but I was also worried that I would be discouraged reflecting on my past four years of teaching. I never had any formal training in how to teach, but stayed in the classroom anyway. I am worried that going back to school to learn how to teach would reveal my inadequacies in the classroom. I also feel a pressure to do well in my classes since I have teaching experience...it is a whole jumble of feelings. But I must say that after my Monday and Tuesday classes I am much more relaxed and excited about the process. The teachers are engaging, funny, and care about our journey to becoming excellent teachers. I'm focusing on reflecting on my classroom experience and critically thinking about how to improve my skills. I was affirmed by what I've learned so far about what makes an effective teacher and I have confidence in my abilities to continue to become an effective, expert teacher.

Next week, I'll start a job in one of the charter schools as a classroom assistant. It is a lot of grading and tutoring...not a lot of teaching, but it is an opportunity to get connected with the charter schools and see another side of education. My field experience hours will take place in a local public school. I'm also in the process of becoming an SAT/ACT instructor and private tutor through Revolutionary Prep. All this to say, that the school/work side of things is really coming together. God is directing my path and opening doors, providing me with opportunities and the means to live :) I am so blessed by this move and although I anticipate missing home, I am still excited to be here and hoping to take advantage of my time in the here and now.

Last night, I went to watch the sunset at the PLNU undergraduate campus. There are large swells coming in this weekend and the surfers were out well into sunset...you may be able to see them in the pictures! I'm so lucky to live here...what a beautiful place!

can you see the surfers out there to the right?

sun setting behind the clouds on the horizon

waves rolling in