The Pinckney Street Girls

Very recently, I moved downtown into a super adorable house with two wonderful women. My roomates and I moved to our location with a purpose. We want to spread the gospel to the community. The vision is sometimes intimidating and lingers with the temptation of impatience. But I am confident God is at work. I believe by simply loving our neighbors, relationships will develope through which Christ will reveal himself.
Some relationships have already begun within our first month in our new neighborhood. I absolutely adore when the children come knocking on our door for various reasons whether asking for snacks, asking us to join them at the park, or just to chat if only for a few moments. They are each a joy and to love them tickles me pink.

Here's to the neighborhood of Pinckney...

"New Kicks On The Block"

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

My friends and I joined a local sports club. Of the sports offered, we chose to partake in kickball. My friends were creative in brainstorming team names; we went with the name New Kicks On The Block. =) Awesome, right?!

The sports club is a not a Christ centered organization. All the more reason my friends and I wanted to join. What a great outreach opportunity to share the gospel. This sports league has been such a joy since the beginning. Our team has been improving so much each week. Although we rarely win, it's such a super fun time of fellowship. There is definitely progress in the building of relationships with others in the league. Our biggest weakness, in my opinion, is getting others from our community to come spectate and join in the fellowship.

I was most encouraged recently when a couple from the league, N & E, invited me to a game night. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to work. :/ However, I was tickled pink that they thought to invite me. :) And through this invitation I learned N & E enjoy board games. So now I know to invite them to join my friends and I at our game nights. It's another opportunity to invest in them and build a relationship with them. This was just total encouragement to me that the Lord is at work with in the sports club. And when others in the league are drawn to us, they might not yet realize it but it's really Christ in us that they see and are drawn to.

Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1

Anthem

Yeah :) This is totally my life anthem right now. Rock on!

 

Take Heart!

Take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

I moved to South Carolina with expectations for myself and I have yet to meet any of them. When I examined my life to see I have not completed anything I set out to do, I became really discouraged. My thought(s): I'm failing. -The lie the world was feeding me. :(

I wanted to please God; not disappoint him, which I felt I was doing by not yet meeting my expectations.

I took my angst to God. I was encouraged by Scripture; in addition to family and friends, as I shared my concerns with them.

My expectations are not God's expectations, just like his ways are not my ways. God's ways & his expectations are better, although I hardly ever realize it until after the fact. God rarely ever does things the way we would expect (He's full of surprises that way). :)

When everything we do is done with the intentionality to glorify God, He is pleased!

So what! I'm not where the world says I should be.

I am where God wants me! ;) I am doing my best to be obey him, please him and glorify him.

I might reach my goals eventually. And if I don't, God's has something better in mind. He has purposefully thought it all out- Although, I do wish he'd share it with me sometimes but I guess that's what makes my journey an adventure. =D Besides I like surprises anyway. Without the mystery there's lack in surprise.

So, bring it on!

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews 12:11

Set out with perserverance & and endurance.

Less of me, More of others

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. -Philippians 2:3-4

I have been so bummed by my inability to keep up on blog updates lately. Its not that I am super busy, although I have been a busy bee, but that I have limited Internet access making it difficult to make time to get to the library to post updates. This is a real bummer for me because I have been having so many blog worthy experiences and life altering lessons that I so much want to share with the blogging world.

I have been wrestling with trying to decide what I should fast or give up for lent. I have come to the decision that for this lent season it is not necessarily going to be about what I will give up or not do but what I will take on and do more.

I am going to make an effort to blog once everyday for the next ~40 days. In addition to trying to do more things for others whether it be holding a door for somebody, letting somebody go ahead of me in line, helping my aunt and uncle around the house, cooking a meal for somebody whom might be having a tough or busy week, or praying for others. These are just a few ideas. It's not how small or big the deed or even the quantity of the deeds, but that I will be thinking less about myself and more about others.

Expectations 2012

I don't have high expectations for this new year. Last year was quite a roller coaster of events and emotions. So this year, I'm keeping it simple with only 3 goals:

1. Get a job. I'm so over the part-time jobs that are suited for high schoolers and college students, like working in the mall(s) and frozen yogurt joints. I'm ready for a full time grown up job that pays me enough to afford living on my own (rent, loans, and all other costs).
2. Get an apartment. I am so thankful & grateful for my family who has gone above and beyond to support me amongst all the craziness of last year, including moving to South Carolina. However I am so ready to be a big girl and live on my own in my own home.
3. Study and pass my certification exam (American College of Sports Medicine: Health Fitness Specialist). I have 8 weeks to study & demonstrate that I did in fact earn my college degree. That I didn't accrue all of this debt in student loans for nothing.

This year is a me year. I am merely focusing on me this year. It may sound selfish, but if ever there is a time in life to be selfish its the college/post college years also known as the early twenties. Once you marry, have children or involve yourself in other such commitments the focus becomes less on you and more on your commitments. Therefore, I am focusing the year on me; simply exploring life and the pleasures it has to offer.

Cheers to 2012!