Pilgrim Footsteps

So, to be completely honest, I'm getting tired of my job, as if it's been a long day and with every hour that passes your energy depletes faster and faster. The problem is that I have felt the chastisement of a loving Father that I need to make the most of every opportunity around me, including at work; that if I want to do missions and ministry so badly, I need to start where I am or how can I do more? Sigh. God's version of "common sense" makes so much sense sometimes that it's both frustrating and glorious! And it's always hard. So I made up my mind to try the best that I could, and often before starting work for the day I will pray for opportunities and that I will see them and take full advantage of them. At one time I would've thought that my opportunities would've come with customers, but really, ever since I started working there, they've come in the form of coworkers. My coworkers - both in my department and others - are th...

So...in two days I leave for Germany!  I'm going with fellow German classmates in our German Exchange Program (through GAPP), and I'm so excited! But, I'm not only excited to live in a German home and see the Alps and all this awesome Germany-stuff.....I'm excited to bring the fire of the Gospel with me!  As a Christian, even though it may not be a mission trip, it is my job to make it one, because our entire lives are meant to be a giant missions trip.  So, for my trip to Germany, I am excited to see whose lives I can touch with the Spirit of God that goes with me everywhere I go.  I want to at least touch one person, be it someone in my US group or someone I meet in Germany.  I've been praying over the family that I'm staying with as well as for many opportunities to spread God's love and fire.  I'm sure I'll have awesome stories of how God worked in lives when I return!  God bless!

I think I was born impatient.  After all, my dad missed my birth because I was in such a hurry to join the world! Ever since, I've wanted to do the next thing as soon as possible, and waiting is not exactly my strong suit. Since I've admitted that, I'll go on to say that I believe my lack of patience has led to my not living in the present very well.  It's gotten especially worse as I've gotten older; after all, with so many awesome plans ahead of me after high school, how am I supposed to focus on the now? I have at least one friend who is sharing this dilemma with me, so I promised I would do some Bible research and listen to what God would tell me on the subject and write a post on it so that maybe it would help it sink in, since, apparently even our youth pastor doing a sermon on it didn't.  So here is my promised post. I'm going to be writing this post around Steffany Gretzinger's song " Getting There ."  The lyrics in italics are co...

So now you know all about the wonderful things in my blessed 2014, but what about this brand-new (well, ok, 11 days old) year of 2015? There are several amazing things I have planned for 2015, and I'm positive that God has even better things ahead for me!  Here's a taste of what I'm looking forward to in 2015. I'm excited... ...for the winter youth retreat and what God has for us! ...for the birth of two of my English teachers' children (it's Mrs. Sigman's first and Mr. Beiler's second) ...for the Avengers Age of Ultron movie (because let's face it, Marvel is pretty awesome) ...to GRADUATE from high school and be DONE! :D ...to go to Germany and get super-good at my German! ...to go to Guatemala again!! ...to become multilingual as I work on learning Spanish, too (and maybe learn some more Ethiopian from some of my coworkers?) ...whatever further schooling plans that I may find myself getting ready (these are the most unsure p...

I'm afraid I might smack the next person who asks me what I'm doing after high school. Don't worry, I won't actually do that, but it makes me feel better to envision it briefly.  The main problem is, I don't have a good enough answer.  I could say "whatever God leads me to do," but that's a cop out and doesn't answer anyone's question.  I could say "I don't know" but that's too simple and not entirely accurate.  Or, I could launch into the whole shebang - how I don't really want to go to college, my parents and lots of other people think I should, I want to do stuff like missions, attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry and eventually start a ministry with some kids from youth group - but somehow, people don't like that, either, and I kind of lose them after "missions." Sigh.  Everyone wants to know, but no one likes my answers.  What's a girl to do? The only thing left - pray!  That...

I think that instead of working to bring the Kingdom of God here on earth, Christians in the United States have adopted the "American Dream."  It is a dangerous decision and has many side effects.  For example, instead of taking action to feed hunger, we pig out at smorgasbords and throw half of it away.  Instead of simply preaching the gospel and growing strong believers filled with the Holy Spirit, we get involved in politics and turn many away because of our tactics.  Instead of selling all we have and following Jesus, relying on God to supply our daily needs, we invest in stock, go shopping and yet insist we need more stuff.  The typical American lifestyle is not truly following the words of Jesus and the example of the Apostles and early Christians. In fact, I hate the term "American Dream."  It is simply a way of renaming the pursuit of worldly values to give Americans something to strive for - something other than God.  But when Christians get...

Lots of things change.  I know that, and have known that, especially as I got older.  Some changes are directed by authority figures in your younger years - what school you go to, where you can go and what you can do, and basically your whole life are regulated that way. But then you become a senior in high school, you turn 18, and you outgrow your tour group where your itinerary has mostly already been planned.  You're dumped back off and.....then what? That's how my life is right now.  I'm about to, have been, dumped off and have to learn to travel through life on my own.  Everyone wants to know what I'm doing after high school.  Well, that's a good question, one I'd really like the answer to myself!  It doesn't help when everyone else seems to have an answer to proudly spout off - they're going to this college, or they applied here and are really hoping to get in, are planning to study that...the list goes on, but sounds pretty much the same. ...