Moving Forward

Cool breezes

It's fall!! I'm really loving the cooler weather right now and the leaves are gorgeous. This is my favorite time of year... I really like summer, but I'm ready for some snow... maybe a ski trip and definitely lots of sledding! Anyways people always talk about there's nothing better than a warm breeze, but I'm thinking there's nothing like a cool breeze. I love how brisk the mornings are. Nothing wakes me up like walking outside in 30 degree weather. I've got to get used to getting up early and having a real schedule because... I HAVE A JOB. (a job to go along with being a youth pastor.) I'm really excited about this opportunity, but there have been some touchy times because of this new job.
It doesn't pay a ton, but I don't care... other people care. One response I got was "a college degree..." and that's it! Rude! Yes, I've got a college degree and yeah (at times) I worked really hard for it and paid a lot of money for it (5 years!!), but it DOES NOT define my life. I'm blessed by the education I've received... I feel very knowledgeable and I can attribute a lot of that to IWU. The job isn't working in my field, but let's be real... I'm thinking about 70% of graduates aren't working in a job related to their field right now.
It's just really hard when the people who are supposed to be the most supportive in your life turn out to be the least. I've only talked to two people outside of my family, but they got more excited and encouraged me more than my whole family put together (minus my brother). btw, thank you for encouraging me friends. Serioulsy though, ouch. I think the thing that makes me the saddest are the reasons why my family don't understand and can't be supportive... with this new job and the youth pastor job. My family needs Jesus. Why is it so easy to talk to the kids about this, but when it comes to my family, the people I love so much I am so casual with their futures? This is something that we all struggle with and deal with at some point even if we come from a Christian home, but it's still so hard.
I can't say that's the only reason... I mean my parents are very realistic and financially minded, along with the rest of the world. They want what's best for me and for me to be the best in whatever I do. They want to me to follow through with some of my dreams I've talked about over the years... and I'm really glad for that, but things change. God changes everything. My number one goal and job in life is to glorify Him. All my life I've been working to keep the peace and essentially, please people. Because sometimes pleasing is the right thing to do (as in being service minded, helpful and respectful).
Well, I'm done with that. I really want my parents to be happy for me and to understand that my life isn't based on these little choices I'm making now. It's based on Something so much bigger than anything I ever dreamed up. Yeah, there's still stuff I would like to do and hopefully I'll get the chance to. I'm not ruling anything out until the Ruler does. Get my drift? I'm not willing to limit myself or my God for that matter, by things I've said I've wanted to do in the past. Hopefully this doesn't come across as an "I don't give a rip" attitude because I respect my parents so much, I just respect God too.
I'm gonna go ahead and get down off my soapbox for a minute... breathe.
Other updates... I'm going down to Trent's next week and going to see Dane Cook (for the 3rd time btw!!) and I'm really excited. I'm excited to see and spend time with people. It's gonna be great. I may even get to explore a cave. :) I'm also super pumped because I'm going to see Third Day Christmas Offerings Tour and Jars of Clay is with them! I love Christmas music. I love Third Day and Jars. It's gonna be awesome! I saw Bill Gaither last year with Trent and it was awesome too, but (sorry Trent) I think this year is going to be even better! Who knows though? Bill and his homecoming friends really know how to rock. :)
In other news, Alexandria is 6 months old and always really happy. She's gorgeous. Kayla will be 3 next friday so of course, she's really funny and entertaining. Sometimes she says stuff that I'm just shocked by. "Out of the mouths of babes..." Wow, how old am I? So anyways, not much else is new. I was in Nashville a couple of weeks ago helping some friends move. I've been hanging out with some of my fave peeps from grade school. I've been uplifted and encouraged by some awesome women in my life and I'm really excited to be "moving forward" these days. I've been reading some good books. I'm pretty excited about life right now and I'm looking forward to things ahead. Prayers for my new job are very welcome and also for my family and my youth.
one last thing, I promise...
I tend to allow myself to get stuck pretty easily. Ruts are tough. Praise God for His awesome power and for His lifting us out of our ruts, yeah? It's easy to be content with where we're at and what we THINK we know, but it's dangerous and can cause a rut to form around us. I pray that you will seek to learn more about Jesus today.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3

posted by Moving Forward @ 11:47 PM