I have found myself real stressed lately, and I found a new stress reliever. It use to be skateboarding, but my mind is never clear enough to ride my skateboard anymore. Lately, it's been driving. I don't mean cars, modding them or anything like that, but straight up driving. I took a good 4 hour drive around the area today, finishing up in Downtown Milwaukee. It's so nice to be able to just clear my head...listen to music...and be alone. It may just become my official stress reliever. I don't mind being alone anymore. It use to scare me, but I somewhat enjoy it now.
Here are some photos I took with my phone.
(Uploaded out of order, sorry!) First, cruising back home. Second one is a selfy of me haha, nothing special just wanted to try it. Third one is just an awesome view of some buildings in the area of down town. And the last is by the Art Museum. Don't really know what it is, but I love it.
I can't wait for spring...I can get out of my car and shoot photos next time...
A couple weeks ago, my pastor talked about at church how each and everyone of us have a spiritual gift. Some may not know what it is, others are aware of it but don't really use it, and some use it all the time! It was at that service that I realized what my spiritual gift was, and that was the gift of encouragement!
I remember back in middle school, a ton of my friends told me I should be some sort of psychologist when I grew up, because I always had advice. Not to mention, I always made myself available whenever a friend was in need. Ever since then, my gift for being there for people has only grown. I think I have a care factor. What I mean is, caring is natural for me. I care about all my friends, and even people I don't know too well, if they're hurting in any way, I almost feel a little bit of pain too.
Back in Highschool, I remember my Choir director saying "Where ever you are, be there." And ever since then, It always pops in my head. Especially when someone I know is in need. Then this passage came around, and I realized what my spiritual gift was! Listening, and Encouraging. This world is extremely hard to go through alone, and I learned after trying for years on doing it myself, that we really can't do this ourselves. There is a God who loves us, so you're never really alone, but He also made the idea of prayer and fellowship, so that we can walk through this life together. When it comes to being there for my friends, I usually promise to always make myself available to them, because it's my spiritual gift, and I would feel terrible not putting it to use.
Lastly, I made a promise to someone, and in hope that they see this, I refuse to break it.
I cannot trust them. I can not get to close to any girl. Every time I do I'm left. The past has come back and I am pretty sure I know what to do this time, completely cling to God and forget that girls exist! I'm not ready to associate with them.
The owner of the skate park that I go to a couple times a week was telling me this story about when they go down to Illinois. They would stop at the same gas station every time, and the same girl would be working. Her name is Yolanda. Every time they made a visit, they always asked her how she was living. She had the same response every time they asked her.
Her response was, "Tired but Blessed."
Ever since that story, I try to think the same way Yolanda does. Lately I've just been phsycially drained, actually emotionally too. But, even when I'm tired, I am still blessed with things that keep me going. Even in my tiredness I have a reason to be grateful.
I'm also tired of winter... Spring is going to be so rewarding when it comes.
I start school Monday. Next chapter of my life, yet again.
It's crazy that a month has already gone by. I wish break wasn't going to be over, I enjoy having a lot of time and nothing to do with it. Does that ever happen to you? When you have no time, you wish you did, and when you do, you wish you had some event to fill the time with? Life is crazy sometimes.
School starts back up Monday. My schedule is pretty tight. Every day except Tuesday I'll be done by 2:30, and tuesday I have class from 6-10 at night. Which leaves me plenty of time to work the hours that I need to support myself, but not so much the time to skate, or get to do anything fun really. I won't be able to go to the Ave anymore, which I'm pretty bummed on, but it will be back in the summer.
I can't believe it's been almost 6 months already. 6 months since God showed me that the girl I was dating wasn't the one. 6 months since I was transferred to a new location for work, and then 4 months later transferred back. 6 months since I decided to move out of my house and onto my own life, and 6 months since I started my second year of college. Basically...it's been almost 6 months since I decided to grow up early. 19 years old is pretty young to move out and start on your own, but I believe that God's plan is perfect for me, and this is all part of His plan.
I honestly can't see my life without God. I wouldn't have anything I do now, know anyone I do now, and be anyone that I am now.
I have a work meeting at 7AM tomorrow, but it's my day off. And pay day. I should get some sleep.
Forgiven, beloved. Hidden in Christ. Made in the Image of the Giver of Life. Righteous and Holy, Reborn and Remade. Accepted and worth, this is our new name.
Well, as you can see I have not been keeping up with this! haha. I had the flu Monday-Tuesday, wednesday I worked, and today I had small group. So I haven't really had anything to say. However, I will tell a little story.
During the game "Quelf" after small group, a specific person had two rules. Both hands had to be on their head, and they had to be keeping something in their left hand that was bigger than their fist. So this specific person had both hands on their head, and a Bible in the left hand. The card he pulled said he had to make a sound that didn't have a word in it.
He chose to go... "WWWWEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!"
Picture that. HILARIOUS!
It's pretty tight having a small group right at your home. That is all.
New Years was awesome. It wasn't like the past 3, (which I miss a ton) but it was wonderful. God opens and closes doors according to His plan, and the past couple years on New Years were some of the best times of my life but that door has closed. This year, Rob and I drove around. That's right, all we did is drive and talk. Rob is one of the coolest people I've ever met. His story growing up is absolutely incredible. He always drives me to areas in his life where stories have been made. The stories are crazy! After a few hours of driving around, we picked up my baby sister. She is also one of the coolest people I have ever met in my entire life. She also has a story that blows my mind away. She is such a funny person to hang out with. It's always a great time. Even if it's a serious time, it's a great time. She also brought her from with her. He seems like a good guy. He's got a humor side. After we picked them up, guess what we did? Drove! That is how I spend my final 2010 hours, and my first 2011 hours, and honestly I wouldn't have wanted it differently. I love driving. There are only a select amount of things that are more relaxing than driving haha. I enjoy thinking, because usually when I think too much, I'm convicted of certain things, and honestly it just reminds me of how much I can't do life on my own, and how good God is to me, even when I am not to Him.
New Years day I worked. I did New Years Eve too, but New Years Day wasn't as exciting. Oh well.
I cannot stop listening to a song by Shawn McDonald. It's his new single out called "Closer." I read that his new album, "Closer" will be out March 2011. I'm so excited because he is such a talented artist and his sound HYPES me up! Anyhow, I'm going to post the video with the lyrics in this post. I feel this way a lot, and it's tight because it pushes me more and more to know the Lord! Which is one of my New Years Resolutions...to know Jesus more and more!
That is only one of my New Years Resolutions. My second one is to focus on Priorities. I live on my own now, so every decision counts. It's easier to do what I want, rather than what I need to do. I want to make sure I prioritize first. My third one is to read more. I'm reading this book right now called "Not Even A Hint" by Joshua Harris. Go search it up! It's awesome. I tried to read it when I was with my ex girlfriend, but I could never stay motivated to reading it. There are a lot of things in that book that I wish I was more educated on during my period I was reading it the first time, but it is helping me currently. My last resolution is to be a better friend to my friends than I already am. Sometimes I'm selfish, and I want to learn to be more understanding and loving. I want to be available for my friends whenever, wherever. Pray for them, encourage them, and share love with them like Jesus shares love with me!
What I like about life, is just because it's the New Year doesn't mean it's the only time to re-solve your struggles. Especially with Jesus, I have been remade, and I honestly can start over whenever for anything I want! What are your New Years Resolutions? I want to know!
Anyhow, I need to throw some Laundry in tonight yet. I have church tomorrow, which I am real excited for.
Here is that song I was talking about. It's amazing...I love it.
