MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Well technically today is only Christmas Eve but I am finally about to leave work and am completely psyched to be spending Christmas Eve day at my favorite place!! With my favorite volunteers and my favorite kids :) Three Elevation services today are going to be absolutely nuts but in a crazy good way!! I also have this Friday off (which is like the first in maybe 10 years... seriously!) I wonder whatever will I do, maybe hit the mall or take a relaxing day off. At any rate I am so excited to be able to serve my lord and saviour in honor of his birth. I also just saw this quote and I love it. So many things in it to focus on.....

"I celebrate the day that you were born to die, so I could one day pray for You to save my life."

A Year at Elevation!!

A year ago I was still struggling with the purpose of my life. I had no clear purpose and felt like I could never find that niche where I truly belonged. I still have a few struggles in terms of what God is calling me to do but I have found a purpose in my life. I despair at the thought that my life might pass me by without God moving greatly on my behalf. I started going to Elevation the last Sunday in December 2007. The church has been such a gift to me and I look back and can't believe it has already been a year. I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing movement of God!! Elevation Church has truly changed my life in the past year. I am so thankful that God was patient with me and did not give up on seeking me.

Great changes in the Past Year...

• Volunteering in Quest (3-5 year olds) - I started off as a volunteer and am now the PM Services Coordinator for 11:30am and 1:00pm services. It completely shocks me that I am doing what I am doing now but it gives me an opportunity to serve the volunteers and serve with the childen and worry more about the big picture and not the little details.
• Friendships: I can't really say what bad friendships I have been called to get rid of but basically what you starve fades and what you feed grows. The friendships that were having a negative affect on my outlook on life, my faith, and my life in general have faded away. Instead of solely losing friends I have gained stronger friendships with people that really speak truth in my life.
• Middle School Small Group: I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead a middle school small group. I have the most AMAZING girls in my group. They are a light into my life and the fact that I can be an impact on their life and an inspiration in their walk with Christ is amazing. I really wish that I had a group like this during my middle school years... more to come on a later post!
• Financials: Granted I have not really gotten a raise or come across any large sums of money but I am no longer obsessed with what job I can have that I will get paid the most. Yes I do need to be able to afford to tithe, pay my mortgage, and other monthly bills but I want to be able to budget and not live an extravagant life, or a life outside of my means. It gives you a huge sense of peace when you make the decision to put God in control of your finances.
• Bad Habits: With a part of my new lifestyle change, I do not enjoy hanging out at bars or drinking anymore. Up until last week I was just kind of fuzzy on how God intended us to act with alcohol. Perry Noble said it straight up that "Getting drunk is a SIN." That really drew a black and white line in my mind. I still enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail and that is perfectly okay, however I just need to be careful not to cross that line.
• Self Confidence: This past year I have really learned that no one has the right to judge me and that the strict guidelines I have always imposed on myself, are not really necessary in the eyes of God. "The king is enthralled with your beauty" (Psalm 45:11).

I guess I ideally could continue on writing but for now, these are some great changes made in my life in the past 365-ish days. It constantly amazes me how many more great things that God will be doing in my life!! As Pastor says.... The BEST is YET to COME!

Sparkle!!

*Sparkle.
What is it ?
It's not just a word, it's a state of being. It's a way of business, a way of life.
Sparkle is that something special, brilliance, enthusiasm, zest for life. Sparkle is all about shining in everything you do and sharing it with the world.
For me, sparkle is a philosophy; and I invite you to live it every day!
My Sparkle is my life.
My Art. *

I just came across this, from an artist whose paintings are displayed in our salon. How awesome is this! And the fact that his passion is completely revealed through his artwork. Especially during the holidays, we see the sparkle everywhere. At this time of year, we see the visible signs of sparkle but when we take a moment to reflect a little deeper, the SPARKLE is everywhere! I pray that God would help me to find the sparkle in my own life and that he would help me to share this sparkle with others. Christmastime is such an amazing time of the year there are sparkles everywhere!! I want to find my true sparkle on the inside that I can not help to share with others on the outside. Okay so much for this short post, but this quote really hit me hard. Our life is too short to not find the inner sparkle that God intended us to share with others. This is the best time of the year to SHINE to others!!