Fair Havens
Many Roles...
I sit here at the Action International office, finishing up my writing for the day and knowing I should post here before I leave. I have been incredibly busy this month as preparing for my Guatemala trip the holiday season tacks on more responsibilities to an already full plate. My life is somewhat fragmented while I serve many roles.
I'm a swim coach. I coach with two different teams. Every evening I coach with a USA swimming club called Cascade Swim Club. Every afternoon is taken up helping coach the Edmonds Woodway and Mountlake Terrace High School swim teams. I also give prvate lessons. I have been coaching for over five years now and it's definitely one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had. I enjoy playing a role in children's lives and I just pray that I'm leaving a positive imprint on them.
I'm a writer. Okay, I'm not really a writer but I just like saying that since that's what my "title" is at Action International. ACTION is a missions sending organization that has over 250 missionaries in 25 different countries. It is so neat being involved with an organization that is doing God's work in so many different places. My role is to update the news portion of the website. As such, I am able to read about all the different ministries happening all over the world. It is an encouragement and I feel so blessed to have stumbled into working with such a God fearing organization.
I'm a missionary (well, not yet). I'm currently raising support and preparing for my trip to Guatemala. The trip is coming fast and I'm excited to see what God will do.
I'm a bible study leader. Every Sunday I lead a bible study at my apartment. It has been neat to grow in faith with others. I used to attempt to live my faith by myself in isolation. It seemed too personal to share with others. Now, however, that's my favorite part of the week. I love leading others in God's word and prayer. I have also learned guitar so I can lead others in worship as well.
I'm a boyfriend/father figure. I'm dating a single mom with a 19 month old. She is a sweet woman that has had her prodigal years but now loves the Lord. I am still very much in prayer about that, trying to discern whether that is the path God wants me to take.
Recently, I looked at my distribution of hours, how much time I spent with all my activities. Those things above took a lot of time as well as things like personal bible study, reading, etc. What came as a shock to me however was when I put praying on the list. I estimated I prayed about one hour per week. As I run around performing all my obligations, sometimes I can begin to lose the center, which is my relationship with God. This is the case even when doing so-called "religious" activities. It became clear that setting aside time to commune with God needs to be a bigger priority. So pray for me, that I would slow down and find the time to do this!
I'm a swim coach. I coach with two different teams. Every evening I coach with a USA swimming club called Cascade Swim Club. Every afternoon is taken up helping coach the Edmonds Woodway and Mountlake Terrace High School swim teams. I also give prvate lessons. I have been coaching for over five years now and it's definitely one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had. I enjoy playing a role in children's lives and I just pray that I'm leaving a positive imprint on them.
I'm a writer. Okay, I'm not really a writer but I just like saying that since that's what my "title" is at Action International. ACTION is a missions sending organization that has over 250 missionaries in 25 different countries. It is so neat being involved with an organization that is doing God's work in so many different places. My role is to update the news portion of the website. As such, I am able to read about all the different ministries happening all over the world. It is an encouragement and I feel so blessed to have stumbled into working with such a God fearing organization.
I'm a missionary (well, not yet). I'm currently raising support and preparing for my trip to Guatemala. The trip is coming fast and I'm excited to see what God will do.
I'm a bible study leader. Every Sunday I lead a bible study at my apartment. It has been neat to grow in faith with others. I used to attempt to live my faith by myself in isolation. It seemed too personal to share with others. Now, however, that's my favorite part of the week. I love leading others in God's word and prayer. I have also learned guitar so I can lead others in worship as well.
I'm a boyfriend/father figure. I'm dating a single mom with a 19 month old. She is a sweet woman that has had her prodigal years but now loves the Lord. I am still very much in prayer about that, trying to discern whether that is the path God wants me to take.
Recently, I looked at my distribution of hours, how much time I spent with all my activities. Those things above took a lot of time as well as things like personal bible study, reading, etc. What came as a shock to me however was when I put praying on the list. I estimated I prayed about one hour per week. As I run around performing all my obligations, sometimes I can begin to lose the center, which is my relationship with God. This is the case even when doing so-called "religious" activities. It became clear that setting aside time to commune with God needs to be a bigger priority. So pray for me, that I would slow down and find the time to do this!
Holding On or Letting Go?
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? " - Jesus (Luke 9: 23-25 NKJV)
In my walk, I have found that when I feel farther away from God, it's because I'm seeking my own way. I try to control my life and then wonder why it feels empty. Then I realize that I'm choosing my life, my comfort, my stuff, my worries, over God. He gave us something so powerful, the power of choice. We can choose to pursue Him or we can choose to pursue ourselves. We can choose to pursue Heaven or choose to pursue our own heaven on Earth. We can choose to control our own life or we can choose to let it go and give it to God. Giving up our lives and placing it in God's hands should be a no-brainer because as David says:
"An entire lifetime is just a moment to You, human existence is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing." (Psalm 39:5-6)
So what exactly are we holding on to and why is it so hard sometimes to let go?
In my walk, I have found that when I feel farther away from God, it's because I'm seeking my own way. I try to control my life and then wonder why it feels empty. Then I realize that I'm choosing my life, my comfort, my stuff, my worries, over God. He gave us something so powerful, the power of choice. We can choose to pursue Him or we can choose to pursue ourselves. We can choose to pursue Heaven or choose to pursue our own heaven on Earth. We can choose to control our own life or we can choose to let it go and give it to God. Giving up our lives and placing it in God's hands should be a no-brainer because as David says:
"An entire lifetime is just a moment to You, human existence is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing." (Psalm 39:5-6)
So what exactly are we holding on to and why is it so hard sometimes to let go?
Trip Preparation, Part 1
This past week has been very busy as I finally begin to prepare, in earnest, for my trip in January. It feels like I've added another part time job to the mix. I had to get a new passport. My last one got a little beat up after 8 months traveling through South and Central America and last time I came from out of the country, the customs guy said I had to get a new one before I travel again. The normal processing time for a passport is 4-6 weeks. I went to the City of MLT to apply for a new passport on December 1st, exactly 6 weeks from then is January 12th, the day I leave. So lets hope and pray my application is processed fast!
I have also finished writing, printing,and folding my prayer/support letters and am in the process of sending them out. It's hard and awkward for me sometimes to send those letters out because frankly, I'm afraid of what some people will think. Pray for me, that I will let God take control and stop concerning myself with selfish things. The main purpose of the letter and my blog updates is to let people be a part of what God will do. It is amazing to know that I have a team of friends supporting me through prayer, that truly care, and are reading the updates. That means way more to me than financial support. I know the Lord will provide me with enough each day.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:31-34).
If you do give, do so with joy! Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians:
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Thank you all for your love and support!
I have also finished writing, printing,and folding my prayer/support letters and am in the process of sending them out. It's hard and awkward for me sometimes to send those letters out because frankly, I'm afraid of what some people will think. Pray for me, that I will let God take control and stop concerning myself with selfish things. The main purpose of the letter and my blog updates is to let people be a part of what God will do. It is amazing to know that I have a team of friends supporting me through prayer, that truly care, and are reading the updates. That means way more to me than financial support. I know the Lord will provide me with enough each day.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:31-34).
If you do give, do so with joy! Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians:
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Thank you all for your love and support!
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