The best is yet to come is a phrase that commonly swirls around in my head as I face an exciting and unpredictible future. In a way, I love not knowing what’s going to happen, just believing God is going to take care of the details. He always does, and He is so much better at it than I am. Right now Clay and I are both in a similar situation. I have 4 weeks of classes left before I and D-O-N-E with college classes. Yay! We’ll both be out of school for the first time since we were five year olds! Then I get to quit my job to student teach in a Kindergarten class right up the road from our home. (It’s so close that I’m thinking about buying a bike to ride instead of driving. Until, of course, it reaches 120 degrees outside again. Then I will happily drive.)

I just can’t wait for that time! I get so excited about so many aspects of my future that I can hardly even focus. Excitement is good, but this is a problem. Not only do my papers not write themselves, but I start to lose sight of today. I’ll explain what I mean. I am a girl that sets a goal, works her tail off to reach it, gets there, and then says “Okay! what’s next?” Now there’s nothing wrong with working hard to acheive goals to accomplish some things in life. That’s not what I’m saying here. The problem lies in the fact that after I’ve run my crazy little i’m-an-overburdened-student marathon, I’m immediately in a hurry to rush off and do the next thing. Somewhere along the way it occurs to me, “Hey. What happened to last year anyway? Was I even there?” Wow. Why am I in such a hurry to blast through life? I really haven’t figured this out yet. BUT I do know one thing. I know what God says about running around like a crazy person in the name of planning out your life. In Matthew 6, he talks about how people worry about what clothes they’re going to wear, and what meals they’re going to eat the next day, week, year. They’re fussing and planning and going crazy trying to look out for themselves and accomplish some goals to take care of those needs. And what God says is simple:

“…your heavenly Father knows that you need them [talking about clothes, food and necessities on earth]. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

A lot of my “worry” about tomorrow is not worry at all, but excitement for dreams fulfilled and investments (of school) paying off. But I believe the same principle exists for me. I shouldn’t get lost in the thought and plans regarding my future to the extent that I lose sight of today. I love what Krystle wrote in her myspace blog about just being still…and knowing the He is God. Sitting and basking in His presence and goodness. I’m no good at that lately. That’s why I’m so glad that God uses people like my friend Krystle to remind me to chill out and JUST BE with God. I’m often so tired from writing papers and reading text books that the last thing I want to do is study the Bible. I’ve rushed through that too. The funny thing is, God’s often not as hard on me as I am on myself. He is overjoyed for me to even just sit and be quiet with Him. That’s what I did today after I got home from work. I just sat with God and then I sang to Him. Quietly. By myself. And I didn’t think about my schoolwork. And I didn’t think about tomorrow. I simply spent my right now with my Jesus. And it was amazing to just BE…with Him.

So November hasn’t been the greatest month. But I am so thankful that God has been there for me in more ways than one.  To start off, I became the only girl out of all my friends who doesn’t have a boyfriend. To clarify, I’m not listing this as a complaint, but to tell those who are reading that sometimes it is ok to not have what everyone else has.  Being single is not a curse, and it doesn’t mean that all my opportunities to find that special someone is lost.  What being the single girl in my group of friends has taught me is to rely and trust God even more.  I can’t tell you what a joy it is to know that at this point in my life, i can devote my attention to God, and what He has for me.  He can be the only one who satisfies me.  My hopes, my dreams, and my desires can rest in Him. How comforting that is to me.  I see being one of the few singles left as HUGE blessing; I know my time will come, I just need to be patient, and let God do His thing. 

Speaking of patience, I have definitely gained some more of that! Some stuff has happened at my work, which at first, really shook me.  Not only was my co-worker and friend attacked, but spiritually so was I.  I am pretty grounded in my faith, but the enemy kept trying to tear me down.  But i am a fighter; there is no way in heck that the enemy is going to make me lose my hope and faith in Christ.  For those of you reading this, if you are going through a hard time, don’t give up.  It is those times alone that we learn how to survive.  God never leaves, He doesn’t turn His back, we just need to get over ourselves sometimes, stop, and listen to what He is trying to tell us.  When we do that, God can give us strategies on how to fight, and get past what we are trying to overcome.  God is so good to us, and even though at times we may feel we are backed up against a wall by our problems, God always gives us a way out.  I have been reading Psalms 27 over and over again, and what really hits me are the first two lines David writes:  

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear? 
      

 The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

  ² When evil men advance against me
       to devour my flesh

when my enemies and my foes attack me,
       they will stumble and fall.

So while November hasn’t been the best month for me, God has something bigger and better for me because I am a surviver. : )

So Angel and I just got back from a weekend in Sierra Vista, AZ. We were staying with our friends Jason and Sam. Jason is an x-army man who looks a bit like a white Tupac. The best part is he offered to take us repelling–down a 50ft. cliff. How sweet is that?! And I can easily say that 50ft. looks a lot different when you are harnessed to a rope hanging over it. And you are guaranteed to gain a new appreciation for rope and for nature– especially when the rope that is suspending you is wrapped around your waist and the other end of that rope is tied to a rotting tree.

Of course it is at this point that I have to explain something. When you repel you wear a harness, like the one I am wearing in the picture on the left. The harness attaches to a rope, which is (as mentioned above) attached to a tree. And then at the bottom of the cliff you have a belayer (see what I am doing— I’m belaying) Basically if Angel was to loose her footing it would be my job to ensure that she didn’t fall by pulling the rope tight. It requires a LOT of trust on Angel’s part.

The whole day we took turn belaying. At one point I was having fun bouncing all over the cliff, and admittedly I missed my footing and began to fall. Out of fear I let go with my break hand (my right) and instinctively grabbed the rope with my left. I slid for about 2 feet when I came to stop. I had burns on my hand from the rope. I looked down embarassed only to see Angel smiling up at me– pulling the rope tight. She had stopped my fall. I made the mistake of not trusting her and ended up with burns on my hand.

I could help but think about times in life when I have lost my footing and started to fall. Even though I knew that God was my anchor and that the Lord wasn’t going to let me fall to my death– I still tried to take control. And everytime I ended up hurt. Then I would end up kicking myself, because I knew that if I had just trusted Him I would have been fine. If you have felt like you falling– know that with God as your anchor, he will never let you fall. He loves you and wants you to succeed in everything. Trust him.

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:5

Also you will impressed to know that that is Angel going down the cliff face first… SHE IS AMAZING! She walked 50 ft down the cliff! Let her know.

I also want to show you this other picture of my friend of Jason— he lept off the edge of the cliff. Yea– he is cool like that!

I think I can… I think I can… I think I can… 

So life is about to change.  In less than a month I will be sweetly saying my goodbyes to the collegiate world.  It has been quite the journey to say the least.  Since my initiation to the college classroom in 1997, I have earned over 190 credit-hours to date in subjects from business, religion, liberal arts, education and construction.  I am happy to say that my current journey concludes on December 14^th when I am handed a Bachelor’s of Science

degree in Construction Management from Arizona State University.  A day of celebration!  I will remember it for a long while. 

Lessons Learned:

I have learned the definition of persistence.  “Never give up” is what my conscience tells me time and time again as I pass through the semesters.  I believe that I have the ability and grace to endure all things.  College life has brought the “best of times and the worst of times” as Dickens said in “A Tale of Two Cities.”  The hardest days of my life have been endured while living my days in the classroom.  However, I cannot forget the fact that I have also enjoyed the best days as well.  I met some of the most unforgettable people I know in the past few years.  One of which is now my wife Amelia. 

Endure, for the prize is grand says the spirit of a hopeful man.  This hopeful man has proven true.  I wish I could only explain the joy attached to this graduation.  A season ended while even better ones begin.  “What would it be like without this season past?” I ask myself.  I shutter at the thought.  I would recommend to everyone this privilege to learn.  To do well with the life you were given.  As one of the most wonderful screenplays ever written bellows “Carpe Diem!  Seize the Day!”  I can wholeheartedly say.  I have done just that.  I have attained a small portion of that which I set out to attain.  For that, I am truly grateful to my loving support.  My friends and family that have been there along the way.  Without them, the road would have been much different. 

Cheers!… to dreams come true and joy fulfilled.  “Argh!”

Welcome back! It’s been almost a year since the last LifeBlood Newsletter was sent out… but It’s Back! You can expect to find a calendar, updates and encouragementin the newsletter. Posting the calendar on your fridge, bathroom mirror or somewhere in your face every day will connect you with your LifeBlood Leaders and friends.UPDATE: Coming next month is a mini-camp experience. Some of you weren’t happy with waiting until summer for the next camp. As a response to your request, were going to Acquire the Fire December 1 &2 2006! ATF 06 is a Friday/Saturday retreat where we focus and connect with God and with eachother. You can expect rockin’ concerts and amazing speakers for 2 straight days as we gather at the Glendale Arena with thousands of other youth. Start saving your money now because it costs a little bit, but it’s worth way more than what you’ll have to pay. I hope to see you there! Watch out for details to come…                                                   

                                                             Pastor Clay

www.acquirethefire.com