Ephesians 4

Yesterday was quite possibly one of the most blessed days I've had in a while. Below is what I read yesterday morning and it's all my heart could focus on all day. It turned out I got to spend the afternoon with two great friends on two separate adventures. I then followed it up with my love for the game of volleyball. Followed by a good time with a few more friends. God's funny sometimes in His timing, but I guess He knows best right? I'm going to leave you with Ephesians 4, I think it sums up an end to a few hard weeks.

Unity in the Body of Christ

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

When did I become emotional?

So it's been awhile since I last wrote anything. Like 3 months almost to the day. I love Austin and life here and the people here and the church I've found. Today is 90 days at my job and I was given the day off to relax. I don't know if relaxing is something that I'm really able to comprehend right now. There has been so much that's been going on in my life in the past week and a half it has just turned me to an emotional wreck, which isn't normal. I don't cry, but I have been and I'm ok with it. This morning I thought I would go for a run out at Town Lake to just release all frustrations and emotions...I didn't make it very far. I made it about a mile to a little sitting area on the Zilker park side that faces downtown. I sat down and thought oh I will sit here for a few minutes...a few minutes turned into 20. I just sat and overlooked downtown and just let my emotions go. Of all songs that came on I just listened to Ray Lamontagne's words in his song "Be Here Now". Who would think Ray Lamontagne would have words of wisdom for me today...not me. I posted the lyrics below. It's what I need to know today...I can't continue to let myself get more and more weary.

Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies

Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places
It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Don't lose your faith in me
And I will try not to lose faith in you
Don't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Home.

Well here I sit at my new home in Austin, TX. This is something I never expected to be doing or really saying. I got a job down here that I started a few days after graduation. No it's not something that I went to Baylor University and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do, but it's a job and it's a foot in the door in the hotel/resort industry.

I also didn't know very many people moving down here, I knew a few guys and that was about it. So, my first week of living here was weird, I knew nobody. Thankfully Sunday morning came quicker than expected and I met some more than amazing people and am for sure amazed at how easily they accepted me.

Here are a few pictures of some of the amazing girls I met a week ago...

Austin.

Well. As of 10 a.m. yesterday morning I had taken my last final ever in college. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, so I celebrated by going to an Italian lunch buffet and getting my haircut. By 2 p.m. I had been offered a job (yes a real job) in Austin! Stress? I don't know that word anymore. I told them I would call them back on Monday and let them know my official decision. (pretty sure it's going to be a yes though :) I also have an event planner that I can shadow in Austin...which is a plus. And I have a church that wants me to do kids stuff? And I know someone that needs a subleaser?

Can we talk about how perfect God's timing is....not mine.

That's my life and I don't know what more to say, other than this is the weirdest feeling ever.

School?

Well, I have officially done everything I can to not be doing school work. I have hand washed clothes that needed to be, I have sorted and washed all of my other clothes, cleaned my room, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the living room, perused facebook, my most read blogs, caught up on the news....and now I'm blogging. My roommate should watch out, her room might be my next chore. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm just not motivated to do school work anymore. I mean I have 5 official days left of class. And I have 4 full weeks left in Waco.

Then what you ask...good question. As of right now I have a pending interview with Banana Republic in Dallas and a pending internship with an Event Coordinator in Dallas. Now that my hectic week is over, I can actually catch back up with the people in charge of both of those and move them from pending to official :)

Other than school, I've just been busy with the usual, church, school, and meetings for school. I hope that you all are all doing well...

Where do I begin?

So maybe it's been a while, as in months. Really where do I begin? Do I begin with rejections, new friends, frustrations, excitements, thoughts, feelings, what?

What has happened since 2008 ended and 2009 began? Well, I started my final semester of school?!?! Wow! It has been a good semester though, with little complaints. Maybe it's just so busy I don't have time to complain?

I've been applying like crazy to jobs and getting rejected like crazy by those same companies. It's a vicious cycle, but I know that somewhere out there is the perfect job! :) I am waiting to hear back from two interviews that were a few weeks ago...I'm hoping for the best!

I'm also still doing 13 hours of school, plus meetings for every class, plus 10.5 hours of work, and on top of that 10ish hours a week to the UBC Children's ministry. I've thoroughly enjoyed my semester though. I've gotten to know a lot of people better and am sad to be leaving Waco soon. (that is if I find a job :) It is a weird place to be right now, Waco has become home and leaving seems like such a weird thought...can I just stay in college forever without the school or work part? I like my friends here...

As for the most exciting recent news, I have a newly engaged best friend! :) It is really exciting, but yet a little weird (are we actually old enough?!). She has found from what I hear an amazing guy...maybe one day we will meet, hopefully before the big day! Love you Schmissy!
Well, as for now that's all I can think of, in short. If you want to know more you should call me or something. I promise to update before my big day...May 16...graduation!