thankful for things, dreamy weather

I am taking a turn in my blogging, no more song titles, just a constant update of what's going on, I honestly don't think anyone read these, but I like to look back on them. It has been awhile since I have been on here, but God has continued to bestow is blessings upon me.

I am so thankful for such a good transition and my students.

Just last week, I took 11 students and some high school "helpers" to Baltimore. Praise God for safety and fun; it truly was a blast. I love them, and love spending time with them. They have taught me what it means to be honest, genuine and the importance of consistency and devotion.

This Baltimore trip was amazing because I  learned a lot about them when I interact with them, sure, I hear things like "I wish I had money" or "I always order off the kids menu because it's cheaper", but these students don't what my money, they want my time. They want me to love them, and invest in them, and even though they don't want to admit it..they want to learn. Some of them are scared to turn out like their dads or moms, some of them question their situation and the Lord, but they ALL want something-and they ALL need Jesus. They want attention and to be loved, and cared for...my prayer is that I can do that through Christ. That I can love them well; being a reflection of the One who loves and cares for us more than anyone else!

These kids are honest, they say how they feel, they say whatever they are thinking, but their honesty is so contagious, and I laugh so much. All the time, really. Between them, and time in the office with my co-workers, I am just learning and growing so much. It is an ongoing cycle. And slowly my students are beginning to understand that I am not just trying to have fun, but to come alongside them and help them "do" life.

It is crazy, but I am thankful for things and loving this dreamy weather. Really what I am doing is amzing to be a part of, I just love waking up and giving my day to the Lord.

May He be glorified, ALONE;

tash

God is Enough: Labor Day at NETwork

It's Labor Day and I'm at NETwork. It's only a short walk down the street from my new apartment. I'm loving it. I do actually have work to get done, but thought I'd take a second to share some thoughts.


I miss camp,  but the kids have been coming by today, and I am just excited for what is next. I start my FLAVA program in a couple weeks. It's challenging here but...I'm learning, I'm growing. I got a year older, an apartment, and started a new job all in one week. Car comes next week. God is so good.

I also came to the conclusion that I have a lot of stuff. I moved into my  apartment, and realized that I have so many things, and if I am not going to use them to glorify God. I need to get rid of it.donate it. toss it.
 

Let us live above reproach. God is enough.

the transition.

It seems as though almost everyone I know is experiencing a transition. Myself included.

Going back.
Leaving familiarity.
Moving blindly.
Accepting jobs.
Making decisions.


We question why we are called "to this place", we pray that we can trust God 100%. As I drove to an unfamiliar place with everything I owned in the back of the truck...my thoughts changed.

Aren't we always supposed to be ready and willing to do. (whatever it may be)

Matthew 4:20 (Immediately they left their nets and followed Him) This is it, the transition. As we pick up our cross, daily (Luke 9:23, check it) we should be constantly in transition, constantly evaluating and discerning where we think the Lord is leading us, and learning to trust Him more.

The 'inbetweens' are hard. We grow weary. We don't understand. We must be obedient.

My new prayers include boldness, and willingness, to see the calling and to be obedient to it. To do. I want transitions, reevaluations, rearranging. I want to find comfort in the transitions knowing I am right where God wants me.

TO DO what He wants. TO BE where He wants me. It's enough.

embracing the transition. here I stand.

...at this time next week I will have finished up my first couple days at NETwork ministries. This is a non profit organization that emphasizes spiritual growth, learning life skills, christian leadership, and academic excellence. the community has needs. the kids have needs.

I am excited. I am scared. I am ready for the transition.

Something Beautiful...

here are the lyrics to the needtobreathe song:

'Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees.
I'm waiting for something beautiful

I love it. The acoustic version is definitely better. It hit me a little while ago that we are actually getting toward out halfway point this summer. That and the fact that I am leaving and probably won't be working at camp again. Not sure what to make of that.

I have been here in this community over a year now and it has been awesome. To see a good display what it means to have a family all love Christ together, working in an environment of amazing Christian men. It has really been a huge blessing to me and has rocked my world. It's beautiful.

all the things at camp, the kids, the fun, and I have been hoping and praying that something beautiful hits me when i get to chambersburg. i mean the kids will be there and so will the fun. I more so want to be able to realize the beauty of investing in a community, like i did in this one.

i will be somewhat permanent and i am going to have to settle. and that needs to be something beautiful.

spotters ready?

tashh

Manifesto: ab crunches, sleepy eyes, and flavors..

well here i am blogging only ten minutes before a morning meeting we don't have but everyone things we do have so everyone is going to be there meeting.

summer has begun. staff are here. more staff are coming. God is manifesting himself here at this place.

M Dubs a.k.a Merriam-Webster says: manifest- readily perceived by senses, especially by the sense of sight, obvious.

I'd say it's pretty obvious God is present. Through the ab crunches I saw five counselors doing on the way up to the HPC. Through the sleepy eyes of leadership tends to have at the end of the week (and that counselors will have at the end of this week) and the coffee shop Flavors where I got to hangout with some amazing girls hired to work on staff.

God is all of those things. the servant hood, the leadership, the felllowship. it's nice when you can see it so clearly.

Good things are happening, people are being challenged and I am quietly in my yellow zone.

I look forward to seeing more glimpses of god in this amazing community He has brought together.

God Manifesto.

..to the only One who makes the moon reflect the sun

well it is about time i posted.

i forget i have this blog. i just want to feel motivated to post and evidently that just happens like once a month or something. Either way God has been teaching me some amazing things.

did i mention i love 2nd Kings. i am a huge fan.

things that are happening, include: receiving and accepting a job in chambersburg, pa. -still scurrying to find summer counselors-realizing who God really is-understanding my gifts and abilities and how to use them-learning how to be a good godly leader-realizing how important friendships are.

things have been happening, but God is still as great as ever and so faithful despite my lack of any and everything.

the song starry night is in my head a lot, lately and i love the fact that He 'makes the moon reflect the sun'.

i remember when i first became a Christian one of the big things the speaker emphasized other then God being a great Father who was always around, was the fact that the world was made so awesomely. but seriously moon reflecting the sun, and being so beautiful at that.

also i experienced a really cute youth sunday yesterday and the idea of being adopted by God and receiving an inheritance was part of the sermon. the high schooler who was preaching was adopted into a loving family, and talked about something she still struggles with, and had a hard time grasping, but because of it can understand so clearly the idea of God adopting us. I think that's neat.

i actually think a lot of things are neato-burrito. the fact that God loves us. the fact that we make mistakes, and He forgives us, and the fact that we fail and God is consistently faithful, and merciful.

there is lots going on with friendships, and struggles with the life, but i can assure you that God is consistently remaining awesome. and that's Truth.

i have laughed a lot. and He keeps bring joy.

i pray that i may become a moon reflecting the Son. I know cheesy right? But really I want to be that. i need to be that. it's just getting there.

tash

Remember spring swaps snow for leaves...

So much has happened in the past week, but I am def. blogging with a specific agenda.

I chatted with someone while I was at SHIP, and this is the list I made while I was up one night on things that get annoying. List is titled: "Let us break the mold of habit" sub-titled the things I think, that aren't true, lies against Truth.

Let Us Break The Mold of Habit
The Things That Aren't True,
Lies Against Truth

[]I must make others proud
[]People can't be mad at me or dislike me
[]I must take on the standards of the world for success
[]I must be relevant at all costs
[]God calls me only to do hard, inconvenient things

and other thoughts turned into questions were:

{}How do I love God, and others with my whole being?
{}Why am I not letting God renew my mind?
{}Why am I not living simply?

These were my thoughts over the past few days, I sat down with a good friend of mine and just chatted about her past is effecting her view on God, essentially holding her back. Thankfully, I feel like my past doesn't do this-but chatting with her we talked through what it meant to be renewed. When the Bible talks about loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind...we need to commit and strive for all these things. Not letting our past experiences box [GOD]. I don't know...just something to ponder.

/Growing up without a father, my perceptions of God were tarnished, in a sense that although He seemed cool He seemed inconsistent. Not Truth just the experiences I grew up with. I mean, once I heard the gospel message clearly my past only by the Grace of God seemed to evaporate. God showed up so clearly, and real, and loving. Anywho, my friend has issues with her dad too.He was around, but was abusive, and well she started to try to make him happy to please him so she wouldn't get hurt, and to this day he never seems to be satisfied with what she does. It is a cycle her dad's dad did it as well BUT not she constantly is looking for that approval she is seeking from God, but instead of accepting what has already been given she is trying to earn not only her dad's approval BUT God's approval too.

/Thinking about this I realized this is something I do. Thinking reading my Bible today will somehow make God more proud of me then when I woke up, or God won't be proud or love me unless I am always doing something good, and when I sin God is really disappointed in me, and begins to love me less.

/The question is when can I/we get it through our thick skulls that God loves us? Notice that the line ends at us. God love us. He loves us. Despite us. God uses us. Despite us. There are things that are pleasing to God don't get me wrong. It's when we begin to seek approval not only from God, but from others that we get ourselves into the ongoing circle of nonsense. Woooo. That was a little long winded. Something to think about though.

It's funny that no matter how often you hear the Truth, it still needs to be heard. I think I am done.