Best Days of my Life?

We have all heard it...the best days of our lives are our high school and college years, well my friends as the Pastor at my church reminded me and all of us tonight in his sermon that the best days of our lives are indeed not our high school and college years but that they are everyday in any situation because of our salvation in Jesus Christ, and that the real best days of our lives are yet to come in our days after our days on earth when we will be with our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

This sermon spoke to me especially tonight because as much as I have looked foward to having a job and living in the real world I have somewhat feared it because I have loved being a student, being surrounded by my friends, and living a life and schedule that depends and revolves around me basically. Well I have only been in the real world for a short amount of time, and I have been at Calvary for less than 2 weeks but I can tell you that those best days at college and seminary will be nothing compared to my best days to come at Calvary. The reason being... instead of studying and talking about ministry I am doing ministry. I am becoming the relational youth director I have prayed to be for the past 6 or so years. Nothing about my day is about me or my needs it is instead about making deadlines, budgets, listening to other people vent or share there stuggles and joys, it is about figuring out how to get kids to go deeper in their faith through your programming, it is full of meetings and it is finding the strength from God inside of you on a Thursday Night Worship service after a LONG week at work to connect with the community with a smile and open arms ready to serve with all of your heart.
But this work that I do, it isn't from me it is from God and it is for God and this is why my best and even worst days at Calvary will be so much more fullfilling any other occupation in the world (for me) because as I serve him and his people with the gifts and talents his has given me he takes care of my soul in a way that can only be done by him and in a way that can only bring me pure joy. With out that in my life it is not complete and nothing else can replace it.
PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR LETTING ME BE HIS VESSEL FOR HIS KINGDOM
AMEN

Ducks in a Row

Do you ever feel like everything in your life is going right that you are just waiting for something to fall apart, or you think this is all to good to be true? That is where I am at right now in my life.

First of all I am home in Minnesota surrounded by my family and friends, second my job...oh my job it is just so amazing it is better than anything I could have imagined. I have been there the last couple of days just doing paper work and all that jazz and the staff has been so welcoming and warm making me feel right at home. I have my very own good size office, with a door! And the opportunities and the team that I am working with everything is just amazing. I am sure not everything will be amazing the whole time I am there, but as of right now this is better than anything I was thinking I would get for my first job. I meet with the Youth Pastor today and he told me that it was a unanimous decision to bring me on staff, it just makes me feel so good that this is clearly where God wants me to be and I have so much support behind me. It is all just starting to sink in that I am youth director I have dreamed about this for so many years , I mean I am going to get paid to hang out with kids and go on retreats and plan fun events and servant events, talk to them about God and life. For me it is my dream job!

And finally I think I found a apartment, I am going to see it tomorrow and as long as it isn't un-livable and my application goes through I will be moving to Uptown right across the street literally from lake Calhoun. I would move in Sept. 1st I have always wanted to live in the city, and being able to walk to coffee shops, and grocery stores and what not. And not to mention it is a safer part of Minneapolis and my best friend from college Emily lives two blocks away. So really those ducks of mine in this journey called life are just lining up one after another happily quaking their way along enjoy the journey.

I guess all I can really say, is THANK YOU GOD for everything you have provided for me!

Missy and Brendan's Wedding

This past weekend my college roomate of two years Missy got married to her college sweetheart. Since Missy was my "college roomate" during the years that her and Brendan first started dating, you could say Brendan was basically a roomate of mine as well :) They are such a wonderful couple and wonderful people, it was a honor to be a part of their wedding, and a lot of fun, especially since I had gotten to know Missy and Brendan's family over the years by going out to eat a lot before Brendan's Hockey games, so it was nice to already have a relationship with the families. Most of the people at the wedding that we went to college with I hadn't seen in two years so it was great to catch, and it was even more great to say I actually have a job :) The bridal party (12 of us) were crazy, they all knew how to have a good time. It was an amazing weekend and wedding! Congrates again Missy and Brendan, I love you both so much and wish you nothing but the best :)

Some pictures of the wedding!

 
The Beauitful Bride, Minutes before she says the big "I DO"
 
Missy and Brendan's first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Cook
 
This bridal party knew how to have a good time!
 
Kasey and I doing our Maid of Honor duties at the dollar dance. (we collected way more money than Myles :) ) 

God is always Faithful!!

I HAVE A JOB!!! I recieved a phone call from Calvary this morning saying that they nominated me for the Youth Director position. I am so filled with joy right now I am not even sure what to do with myself. Thanks be to God for everything. Thank you so much for all of your love, support, and prayers along the way, it all meant so much to me. Blessings to you all!

Waiting....and Waiting

Hey Everyone, well I found out that I was one of the two finalist for the job in St. Paul and while they were really impressed with me and believed that I would do a great job they desided to choose the other applicant. I found this out the same night I had my 2nd interview at Calvary. So I will know more about Calvary on Wed. I am really praying that Calvary works out for many reasons but mainly because I really believe that it would be a good fit. But I also know that God has a plan and it might not be my plan, so I just have to wait and trust. Sometimes that is eaiser said than done :) But I am learning a lot about patience during this time period. If Calvary doesn't work out there are two other churches in the twin cities area that are hiring that I have turned my application into as a backup today. But on Thursday I leave for Missy's wedding (my college roomate, I'm her maid of honor!) so job or no job it will be a great weekend!! Thats all for now hope all is well!!

Interviews

Greetings!! I don't have any really exciting new news to report on the job front, it is moving along just slowly. My second interview at East St. Paul was wonderful, I really enjoy the members of the search committee and the time that I have spent there interviewing with them and talking about ministry. Going into the meeting I was leaning more towards Calvary but I drove away from the interview just loving that church as well, which left me at sqaure one with desiding between the two. However I have not been offered the job at either place yet so I remind myself everyday that it I could not get the job at both churches. However if the situation arises where I have to pick between the two it doesn't hurt to start thinking and praying about it now. I have a second interview at Calvary this Thursday night with some of the youth and their parents. So maybe by next week before I leave for Missy's wedding I will know either way from one or both of the churches. If someone would have told me that this job hunt would have taken at least 4 months back in May I don't know if I would have believed them. But it is all about patience and trusting in the Lord that he will put you where he wants you in his timing. That is what I have to tell myself everyday.
Other than interviews I am keeping myself busy this week by helping out with VBS at my home church in Lino Lakes. It is weird not to be one of the main leaders of the day camp since that is what I did on 6 day camps out in MT. But I have Abby and Lucy in my group, so it is great to spend time with them and some of the other kids at church.
Summer has gone by fast and slow all at the same time. But there is only 2 or 3 more weekends left to be on the lake. That is crazy.
Have a great day everyone!!