Blessed

As I sit down to write this post at the end of a crazy week I can't help but feel blessed.

This week has been full of laughter, memories, and many tears.  At times I felt like this week would never end, but it turns out it went by too fast.

I finished my last day of work today.  As I drove away tears filled my eyes...tears because of the reality of how blessed I have been.  Change is never easy for me.  Often I long for something new and different, but when that time actually comes I have a hard time accepting the change.  Such is the case with the end of this chapter of my life.

I am excited to be going to school to have education for a career which I hope will allow me to do some travelling and missions work in the future.  Yet as excited as I am to go on in my life, it's hard leaving behind the life I've know for the past year.  My time at my job was great!  I am so blessed to have had the opportunity I had to work there!  I can't even begin to describe the blessings...

As I drove home after work today I couldn't help but reflect on the reality that God really truly used me.  I am overwhelmed that despite the personal hardships of the year the light of Christ shone brightly through me.  I saw that as I was taken out for lunch yesterday with two of my office coworkers and the owners wife.  I saw that as I got a card signed from many of my coworkers.  I saw that as I received a card from my coworker friend that is replacing me.  And I also saw it as I had flowers 'anonymously' sent to me today.  I saw how just being who I am and being willing for God to use me has created an atmosphere around me which blesses those I know.  It's like how I wrote exactly a month ago about how God has chosen to use little me to do what only my great big God can do!  It's amazing!

I am blessed to know that even as I am done my time in my workplace that there are people there who will always have a place in my heart.  As the years go by I will always remember them.  I will always remember this past year and reflect on the blessing it has been!

Though it's hard to say goodbye (especially since the last month and a half has been a blast as I was training and getting to know my replacement...who quickly became a friend.) I have peace in knowing that God is faithful and He has heard the cry of my heart.

It's time for a new chapter to begin.

The Word of Our Testimony...

"We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony."  As our testimony is spoken, faith rises.  The testimony gives way to hope and faith that God is true to His promises!  It is a reminder that He is truth!  It opens the door to salvation!  The blind will see!  The lame will walk!  The deaf will hear!  And the lost will be found!  They WILL be found!

This is what I quickly scribbled down at work today.  I had two songs, plus a conversation running through my mind as I jotted those words down.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about testimonies and how God uses them to open doors in people's lives. Today I had an opportunity to share a testimony of mine about how Jesus healed me from some food allergies!  I was so excited!  The door opened and I took the opportunity to let Jesus' truth shine through!

After I shared my testimony with my friend I couldn't help but have so much joy in knowing that Jesus had total victory in that conversation!  The enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy was crushed!  It reminds me of Revelation 12:11.  The Message version says "They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness."  They defeated him, satan, through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness.  They DEFEATED him!!  

There is power in sharing our testimonies.  It doesn't matter how big or small your testimony may seem, it's your testimony of how Jesus has worked in you and through you!  For me it happens to be a testimony of healing that I shared, and I know God isn't done with the conversation I had earlier today!  It was only the beginning of something huge...because I serve a HUGE God!  

God is doing exciting things!  I look forward to the day, that IS coming, where I will see the blind see!  I will see the lame walk!  The deaf will hear!  And the lost WILL be found!!  They WILL be found!! 

Every prayer prayed, every tear cried, every testimony shared is just a step in this journey.  Those we are praying for WILL see the Lord.  He IS faithful!  So be faithful to step out and let His light shine through you!  

One Of Those Weeks...

Have you ever had a week or season of your live where it feels like everything is coming at you from all directions?  That's how this week feels for me...

This is my last week at my job.  I only have three days left, which I can not believe!  It doesn't feel like it should already be the middle of August, but it is.  This last week of work is kind of bitter sweet for me, maybe a little more bitter than sweet...  I'm excited to be moving on in my schooling, but I am so sad to say goodbye to my coworkers.  I'm really going to miss seeing them everyday!  I have been so blessed to have a great boss and amazing coworkers!  My mom keeps saying I'll have to go back and visit, which I'm sure I will!  :)

Leading into this week I knew it would be tough, with it being my last week of work and all, but I didn't realize what else would soon be coming my way...

Yesterday night my family had two of my closest friends over for dinner.  It was the last time that we will have them over before they move to California.  I'm going to miss them so much!  Amanda is one of the first people I met here, and therefore my first friend here!

Then yesterday I found out another friend is moving soon, and today I found out yet another friend is moving even sooner!  Needless to say it's been a very teary week so far!

I feel like I'm in a season of complete change.  This summer has been so good up until now.  It's been peaceful.  It's been full of joy.  It's been busy, but in a way quiet.  Nothing dramatic or surprising has happened...until now.  I guess it's a reminder that seasons come and seasons go, yet God is in the middle of it all.  I may not understand why all this change is happening, yet I know that God sees the reasons why.  And I know that just as He has always been by my side, He is still by my side.

In closing I want to share the lyrics to a song by Starfield that have been going around in my head all evening:  "Faith might mean there won't be answers, and hope might mean enduring through the night, but help me not forget in darkness the things that I believed in light."  (Something to Say by Starfield)

I Refuse...

I've had the song "I Refuse" by Josh Wilson stuck in my head all day.  It really is the cry of my heart...

"Cause I don't want to live like I don't care.  I don't want to say another empty prayer.  I refuse to sit around  and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself.  Oh I could choose not to move, but I refuse."

The Countdown...

The countdown until this coming weekend has been in full swing for a few weeks now, but today I started counting down in hours instead of days!!!  Friday afternoon can't come soon enough!  One of my best friends from when I was little is coming to visit me and I can't wait!  It's been 4 years since I've seen her!

I've been frantically trying to get my room organized before she gets here.  We moved my sister into her new bedroom on Sunday night, so now I have my own room and get to organize it how I want it!  :)  It's been an exciting week, that's for sure!

Well, I better get back to organizing!  Less than 48 hours until Amanda gets here!!!  :)

Look Like Love

"I wanna look like love.  Be more than just enough for the hearts that are broken, coming undone.  It's up to you and me to leave a legacy if we're all they ever see.  I wanna look like love.

If I believe there's a Saviour, is the proof in me?  Is He alive and breathing?  Is He what they remember, is He what they see when they look at me?"
~ Britt Nicole, from Look Like Love

The last number of weeks this song has been rolling around in my head.

I now only have three weeks left in my workplace.  THREE!  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  Everyday my co-worker friend who I've been training and I talk about how it already a certain day.  Each time we talk about it a bigger lump forms in my throat, and a bigger well of tears begins to form in my eyes.  Time is going too fast...I'm not ready to leave there...

But I know it's time to start a new chapter in my life.  The question running around in my mind is "do the people I work with see Jesus in me?  Have I been an example to them?  Have I shone the love of Jesus to them?  When I am no longer working there will they remember me for me, or for what they saw in me?"  My prayer and desire is that they will remember me for WHO they saw in me...not just me for me.

Right now these thoughts are all about my work situation, but reality is it should be the way every Christian should live their life.  We should be living every day to shine the love of Jesus to everyone around us...regardless of how much time we have with somebody, because nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.

So, at work I have exactly 14 days left...14 days to pray "Lord use me."  14 days to say "Jesus, please make this day count for You."  14 days to look like Love.  14 days that I pray do not go by quickly...because I'm going to miss everyone of my coworkers....

Together We Can...

...stop slavery.

About a month ago I came across a video put together by Passion 268 called "Freedom Film."  It's a video about modern slavery.  It was extremely moving.

Prior to watching this movie, I knew slavery still existed, but I wasn't hit with the reality of it until I took the time to watch this video.

I encourage you to take 40 minutes out of your day to watch it, and to share it with your friends!  Slavery needs to be stopped...now!

Here's the link to the video on the Passion 268 website.  http://268generation.com/passion2013/freedom-film/