Even though it is still hot during the day I can feel fall in the air in the morning....it excites me! I hate to see summer leave but I love fall. The smells, the crisp air, the pumpkins and football:). It will be time to place my fall candles on the candle warmers, time to drink my fall teas like cinnamon and french vanilla chai. I have a nice saxophone cd playing on my laptop as I am writing this post. Praying for each of you to find contentment into today. I have a few needs on my list but I have decided to not let them become my focus, but to let God's awesomeness to remain center stage. His plans for us are so great!
I have my homework for my morning class all ready to go. I still have two chapters to read before tonight's class. I have one quiz to do for my other class and one more chapter to read for that class. I wonder what great things of God will we see today? Make sure to look everywhere so you don't miss it! Because somedays it is the little things that speak the loudest of God's greatness. He cares about details! I love that about God.
Well be blessed! Don't miss anything from God. Be watchmen on the towers! Take time to smile at others...enjoy every moment that He gives us.
Taking it all in,
Shanin
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
My New Friend, Hal
I have to share with you something that happened last night. Our youth group has been focusing on a new theme of PUR. Pure Undefiled Religion. Helping the orphans, widows, outcast and lonely. Well, last night Jesus gave me an opportunity to experience it in the flesh.
I had about an hour before I had to be at church to grab a bite to eat. Normally I would go home and eat but on Wednesday nights is "fend for yourself night" and the County Fair is the happening spot in Burley, Idaho. So I went to the fair! I bought a crazy spud for supper. For those of you who have never had a crazy spud, it is a huge potato that is cut thinly in a spiral so it is one ruffle! They then deep fry it and it is basically a huge heaping plate of fresh potato chips. You can sprinkle your own seasoning. I took my plate and went on a mission to find a place to sit in the shade on this hot fair day and enjoy my chips.
I found a bench with an older gentlemen sitting on it in the shade! I asked if he minded if I sat beside him. He smiled with excitement and said, "No, not at all and you can even sit closer!" I sat beside him. I started a conversation with him and offered him a chip. He gladly accepted. I continued to share this bounty of fresh made chips with my new friend Hal. He was careful to be polite and not to eat too many. I could just tell that he was hungry. I found out that Hal had been attending church for about a year at the local Calvary Chapel. I learned, from Hal, that there was another bench that you could sit on for eight hours and see new people all day long. It made me smile. He had been sitting here all day long. Before long, it was time for me to leave for church. I offered the rest of my crazy spud to Hal. He said, "Oh no I can't take your dinner." I explained to him that I was going to throw it away if he didn't take it. He quickly agreed to take the food.
I want to say how incredibly blessed I was by meeting Hal and sharing my dinner. I first set out to bless him but it ended up being the other way around. I hope to see Hal around town again. He told me that if I ever see him to holler at him!
Don't get so caught up in your own world that you miss out on meeting a Hal. Don't let the enemy distract you with drama that you miss out on a blessing. Take time to look for God moments. Remember that ministry is never convienent. Take just a moment of your busy schedule to share a smile or a kind word, or a crazy spud. It will so bless your day and life. I am looking forward to seeing Hal again. If not here I will see him in heaven. We will be able to share how we met at the Cassia County Fair over a plate of fresh potato chips.
Truly Blessed,
Shanin
I had about an hour before I had to be at church to grab a bite to eat. Normally I would go home and eat but on Wednesday nights is "fend for yourself night" and the County Fair is the happening spot in Burley, Idaho. So I went to the fair! I bought a crazy spud for supper. For those of you who have never had a crazy spud, it is a huge potato that is cut thinly in a spiral so it is one ruffle! They then deep fry it and it is basically a huge heaping plate of fresh potato chips. You can sprinkle your own seasoning. I took my plate and went on a mission to find a place to sit in the shade on this hot fair day and enjoy my chips.
I found a bench with an older gentlemen sitting on it in the shade! I asked if he minded if I sat beside him. He smiled with excitement and said, "No, not at all and you can even sit closer!" I sat beside him. I started a conversation with him and offered him a chip. He gladly accepted. I continued to share this bounty of fresh made chips with my new friend Hal. He was careful to be polite and not to eat too many. I could just tell that he was hungry. I found out that Hal had been attending church for about a year at the local Calvary Chapel. I learned, from Hal, that there was another bench that you could sit on for eight hours and see new people all day long. It made me smile. He had been sitting here all day long. Before long, it was time for me to leave for church. I offered the rest of my crazy spud to Hal. He said, "Oh no I can't take your dinner." I explained to him that I was going to throw it away if he didn't take it. He quickly agreed to take the food.
I want to say how incredibly blessed I was by meeting Hal and sharing my dinner. I first set out to bless him but it ended up being the other way around. I hope to see Hal around town again. He told me that if I ever see him to holler at him!
Don't get so caught up in your own world that you miss out on meeting a Hal. Don't let the enemy distract you with drama that you miss out on a blessing. Take time to look for God moments. Remember that ministry is never convienent. Take just a moment of your busy schedule to share a smile or a kind word, or a crazy spud. It will so bless your day and life. I am looking forward to seeing Hal again. If not here I will see him in heaven. We will be able to share how we met at the Cassia County Fair over a plate of fresh potato chips.
Truly Blessed,
Shanin
Monday, August 15, 2011
Getting Ready!
So, we are getting ready to go camping with our Bridge Peeps! I thought that I might update you on the remodel of the fixer upper camp trailer. I now LOVE the paint color that I chose! It has made a huge difference. He has done one coat of kilz paint and two coats of my color. I am so excited. Also my husband has ripped out the twin beds and has built in a bed built for two and moved the night stand so that it is now useable. Today he is going to paint the rest of the inside of the trailer white primer, clean the cushions and sweep it out once again.
So I am thankful for a wonderful crafty husband who can vision things that I cannot even begin to see and figures out a way to get it done! Before long we will be around a warm campfire with people whom we love to hang out with eating sm'ores, playing games and making memories :)
One Happy Camper :)
Shanin
So I am thankful for a wonderful crafty husband who can vision things that I cannot even begin to see and figures out a way to get it done! Before long we will be around a warm campfire with people whom we love to hang out with eating sm'ores, playing games and making memories :)
One Happy Camper :)
Shanin
Friday, August 12, 2011
Heart's Desire :)
My sweet husband is getting our trailer ready for camping. Now this trailer is a recent purchase. We had an opportunity to buy a "fixer upper" about two or three months ago. It has been patiently waiting for some t.l.c. This is the week! My hubby and I had talked about getting it "camping ready" for this year and then work on it some more later to fix it all up the way it should be. Jason had talked to me about painting it white because we already had white paint. That made perfect sense to me! It used whatever we already had and it was saving money. Now, secretly inside I had thought about how nice it would be to get to pick out some pretty color to splash on the walls but placed that thought aside for the practical. Well, only God knew that little heart's desire/wish. Last night my husband tells me that he can't use that paint because he read it and it is for metal only. He then tells me that he thought that I would like to go pick out some pretty colors since we had to buy paint! Yippy! We chose "Wind Over the Plains" for the wall color and "Bronze Sundial" for the trim. Oh I am happy!
Now for another glimpse at the type of person I am and who my husband puts up with...I am the person who "knows" what she wants when going to an eating establishment and then changes her mind twenty times until the waiter or waitress comes to take the order and then I will pick something that I might not have even looked at! And to top all of that off when the food comes I want to taste my husband's yummy looking food! LOL It has driven him crazy over the years but he is soooo gracious to me :)
So I love the paint colors that we chose last night...well, actually I got to choose but he did have a little input. Today I was thinking...I could have gone with a color of deep plum for the trim and another wall color. LOL Okay not really. I know that the trailor is far too small for such colors but I was thinking that it could go with the gold flooring...no, I love my greenish earthy tones. I just hope that I didn't go too dark :)Now that you followed me in all of that, I just wanted to tell you that I serve such a great Father that He knew that my heart's desire was to have a splash of color in our trailer. Not a necessity or even a need but a real frivelous treat for his little girl. And I have such an awesome husband that he too would be sensitive to his girl's wishes. I never said anything but He knows and loves me so very much that he even thought to ask me and just didn't run to the paint store and picked up the color that someone else rejected. My heart is truly happy! I am amazed by the love showered on me! For that I am grateful.
Feeling the Love,
Shanin
Now for another glimpse at the type of person I am and who my husband puts up with...I am the person who "knows" what she wants when going to an eating establishment and then changes her mind twenty times until the waiter or waitress comes to take the order and then I will pick something that I might not have even looked at! And to top all of that off when the food comes I want to taste my husband's yummy looking food! LOL It has driven him crazy over the years but he is soooo gracious to me :)
So I love the paint colors that we chose last night...well, actually I got to choose but he did have a little input. Today I was thinking...I could have gone with a color of deep plum for the trim and another wall color. LOL Okay not really. I know that the trailor is far too small for such colors but I was thinking that it could go with the gold flooring...no, I love my greenish earthy tones. I just hope that I didn't go too dark :)Now that you followed me in all of that, I just wanted to tell you that I serve such a great Father that He knew that my heart's desire was to have a splash of color in our trailer. Not a necessity or even a need but a real frivelous treat for his little girl. And I have such an awesome husband that he too would be sensitive to his girl's wishes. I never said anything but He knows and loves me so very much that he even thought to ask me and just didn't run to the paint store and picked up the color that someone else rejected. My heart is truly happy! I am amazed by the love showered on me! For that I am grateful.
Feeling the Love,
Shanin
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Believe!
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28,29 NIV
This is an important question and answer. The question was asked by the crowd that he had fed by multiplying the five loaves of bread and two fish. He had fed A LOT of people and had baskets of left overs. The next day the diciples and Jesus got in the boat and crossed "the lake" (smile) to Capernaum. The crowds realized He had left and they got in their boats and followed to where they found Him. Then they asked "the question." "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
I have heard so many people in my lifetime ask something very similar. What is God's will for my life? What do I have to do to follow Jesus? What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered this question in one answer, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
BELIEVE in the One He has sent...BELIEVE in the One He has sent. That is such a short answer but wow is it big if you really think about it. I heard a retreat speaker once say, "Just pretend that you really believe in the Word of God and act like it's true." I had to laugh because it is one thing to say that you believe but it is a whole different ball game to act on it! But isn't that believing? Acting on it...acting like you believe it's true? But when the chips are down many times we fall apart rather than choose to believe in Him!
So before the crisis hits choose to believe in Him. Then act like you believe in Him! It will change your life! If you truly believe in Him, and live your life like your truly believe in Him and the Word of God your life will reflect it. Your life will be changed. Others will see a difference. What a testimony if every Christian would just truly believe.
Believing in Him,
Shanin
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28,29 NIV
This is an important question and answer. The question was asked by the crowd that he had fed by multiplying the five loaves of bread and two fish. He had fed A LOT of people and had baskets of left overs. The next day the diciples and Jesus got in the boat and crossed "the lake" (smile) to Capernaum. The crowds realized He had left and they got in their boats and followed to where they found Him. Then they asked "the question." "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
I have heard so many people in my lifetime ask something very similar. What is God's will for my life? What do I have to do to follow Jesus? What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered this question in one answer, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
BELIEVE in the One He has sent...BELIEVE in the One He has sent. That is such a short answer but wow is it big if you really think about it. I heard a retreat speaker once say, "Just pretend that you really believe in the Word of God and act like it's true." I had to laugh because it is one thing to say that you believe but it is a whole different ball game to act on it! But isn't that believing? Acting on it...acting like you believe it's true? But when the chips are down many times we fall apart rather than choose to believe in Him!
So before the crisis hits choose to believe in Him. Then act like you believe in Him! It will change your life! If you truly believe in Him, and live your life like your truly believe in Him and the Word of God your life will reflect it. Your life will be changed. Others will see a difference. What a testimony if every Christian would just truly believe.
Believing in Him,
Shanin
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
We Struck Gold!
Hello! Sorry it has been so long since I last blogged. My life has been very full and blessed.
Today I want to talk about gold. Gold has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewelry, and other arts since long before the beginning of recorded history. The Bible has many references to gold.
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. Prov. 27:21
Today I am going to talk about the recent deposit of gold that we found. Actually I knew it was there all of the time but I had the chance to see some refining of that very deposit of gold this past weekend. The treasure I am talking about is our youth group, The Stand(ers) at the Bridge. I had the opportunity to go to their youth retreat at the Oregon Coast this last weekend. Let me tell you (just in case you didn't know), our youth ROCKS!
I saw a body of young believers worship together in the presence of God the way I would like to see our whole church worship! I got to worship with them! It reminds me of the song Hosanna (by Hillsong United, the second verse, "I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith, with selfless faith." I am so excited to see our youth press into a realtionship with God that is not just a surface relationship but a deep relationship. I am so excited because we have a great deposit of gold in our body that is dispersed in our church, community and schools. They are leaders. They will rise up and take their place. I am so thankful for them.
1Ti 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Hang in there,
The Stand(ers). You will win the race. And I will say that you are an awesome group of young men and women. I am so grateful that you are part of our church. I would stand and serve beside you anyday of the week. Thank you for letting me come and serve you this weekend.
Let me finish with this. And to the general people, value our youth, invest in our youth. Your investment will never go wrong when you invest in gold :)
Shanin
Today I want to talk about gold. Gold has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewelry, and other arts since long before the beginning of recorded history. The Bible has many references to gold.
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. Prov. 27:21
Today I am going to talk about the recent deposit of gold that we found. Actually I knew it was there all of the time but I had the chance to see some refining of that very deposit of gold this past weekend. The treasure I am talking about is our youth group, The Stand(ers) at the Bridge. I had the opportunity to go to their youth retreat at the Oregon Coast this last weekend. Let me tell you (just in case you didn't know), our youth ROCKS!
I saw a body of young believers worship together in the presence of God the way I would like to see our whole church worship! I got to worship with them! It reminds me of the song Hosanna (by Hillsong United, the second verse, "I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith, with selfless faith." I am so excited to see our youth press into a realtionship with God that is not just a surface relationship but a deep relationship. I am so excited because we have a great deposit of gold in our body that is dispersed in our church, community and schools. They are leaders. They will rise up and take their place. I am so thankful for them.
1Ti 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Hang in there,
The Stand(ers). You will win the race. And I will say that you are an awesome group of young men and women. I am so grateful that you are part of our church. I would stand and serve beside you anyday of the week. Thank you for letting me come and serve you this weekend.
Let me finish with this. And to the general people, value our youth, invest in our youth. Your investment will never go wrong when you invest in gold :)
Shanin
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