Blessed... Further news

Hi all,

I'm sorry I have not updated this sooner in regards to my previous note (Blessed).  Well, there are two things that happened not this past Friday, but the previous one.  I got a call from a restaurant in VA/DC area asking me to come in to talk to a manager, which is crazy, and I received an email-invite to an Apple hiring event that happened this past Tuesday.   So, this past Monday I talked to the restaurant and am now waiting to talk over the phone with a manager, which is a lot nicer than going to VA and then maybe being told, "Sorry, you have have come all the way up here but we actually don't want to hire you."  This saves that embarrassing possibility.

Then on Tuesday I went to the Apple hiring event, which was cool.   I was asked back for an afternoon interview, after the morning "group interview".  The afternoon interview went fine and I was sent that day a background form to fill out.  Now I am waiting for a final in-store interview to see if I am hired or not!  PTL!

So that's what I wanted to share.  God truly has blessed me so far with these potential jobs.  Thank you all for all your prayers!

Deeper

Listening to this song today.  Great lyrics.
(Here's a video version: Deeper by Hillsong UNITED)

Deeper

Light of men
Love of God
Healing for the wounded heart
Like a child I quiet my soul
Hear Your voice surround me Lord

Jesus, hold me into Your heart
Into Your heart
Lord my soul delights
And I know You hear my prayer
Take me deeper Lord
Glorious Son to You I shall bow
Bow my knee, bow my will
Cherished by the strong and the weak
Humble hearts shall hear You speak

By Your love Lord You opened my heart
Now Your light will shine always
By Your Word Lord Your promise secure
And my soul will live always

Take me deeper Lord

Blessed

I am very blessed.  God has been providing in different ways and really glad to see where He might take me.

More details to come in the next week or so.

Weird day.

It's been a weird day today.

This past Sunday I headed to Tally to see my brother and go to the Passion 2012 University Tour stop at FSU.  I left late afternoon on Sunday and got in that evening.  It was great time with my bro and his friends up there.  He is interning at a ministry (CCF) this year and is living in one of their houses.  It's a cool set-up.  He lives there with two other interns and a resident guy.  So I was there for Monday and Tuesday.  We grabbed coffee on Monday and caught up some, I was able to share more about my processing India with him.  It was good; I always like when people are willing to hear out where I am at and actually want to hear what I have to say.  Then on Monday I got to attend CCF's campus gathering.  This is there weekly night with worship songs and a message from their director, Michael.  It is awesome to see what he is apart of up there and what Stephen has had his hand in.  He truly is an awesome brother and over-flowing with creativity.  CCF marketing, graphics, media, etc. can attest to this.

Then on Tuesday, I slept in, which was nice.  I went to Panera for awhile, around three hours, while he had a meeting that was longer than the time I was at Panera(!).  And that night we went to Passion 2012 University Tour.  Charlie Hall and Kristian Stanfill led everyone in an awesome worship time.  And we had a simulcasted talk from Louie Giglio.  It was a great night.  I also got to see and sit with my friends from Jax that are apart of Campus to City Wesley (CCW).

So I decided because I needed to get back Wed. (today) morning and it was advised that I sleep before I head back to Otown from Tally, I left Stephen's place around 3:45am and made it back to Orlando around 8am.  That is why its been a weird day today.

Goodbye Washington, DC

I headed home today from my brother's and sister-in-laws in Arlington, VA.  It was a great trip to spend taking care of my niece with my mom.  See below post for pictures.

I enjoyed the weather as it started out probably in the 80s when I first arrived and got down to the 60s and 50s.  Great weather.  That is one huge perk of VA/DC.  A possible down side is that it becomes unbearably cold in the winter, for a FL boy anyway.

We had some hard times and some great times.  The hard times include Ella breaking down, screaming, fitful-screaming tantrums.  You know, what 14 month olds do.  But we would got through those times.  Either she would realize we were no longer paying attention to her and that the fits were not getting her anyway or that whatever was bothering her passed.  Than we got back to normal.  In fact, the mood swings were such that one moment she would be screaming like she was dying and the next she would be smiles and laughing.  It was a little bit crazy.

But the fun/good times were well worth the hard ones.  To be able to spend time with this little one who is the daughter of by brother.  Still a weird idea.  But awesome nonetheless.  We played with blocks, old cell phones, push car/things, food, etc.  Mainly I was just glad to be there.  I know for so many people often, especially if they are separated by long distances with family, they do not get to share in the growing up years of their nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.  I want to be there for Ella and be family even with were separated by hundreds of miles.  She really is the cutest kids ever (ok, ok one of the cutest ever).  It's not really worth arguing over ;)

#documentlife: Ella in Sept-Oct '11

Here are some pics of my mom, Ella, and me from my trip to VA/DC.  Ella makes some crazy faces sometimes.

Washington, DC

I have been up in VA/DC since last Monday and have been enjoying my time with my niece.  My mom is also up here right now while said niece's parents, my brother and sister-in-law, are on vacation in Hawaii.  I really love it up here.  The weather is changing and so it is getting cooler (way better than FL weather anyway).  I had the opportunity of getting together with Nelson, a friend attending seminary in DC, and went to a good chili joint, Ben's Chili Bowl.  I recommend the chili cheese fries.  

Like I said, I have been enjoying my time with Ella.  I'm glad for at least a little while to be able to input into my niece's life and see her grow up.  It is often hard to live with a 14-month old because you have to cater to their every needs, you don't always know what they want because they cannot really talk, sometimes they scream uncontrollably making the neighbors think you might be abusing them, and they have this baby smell that never really goes away.

BUT, they are probably one of the best things that could happen to you and your life.  First, it is most amazing to watch how they play and interact with the world around them.  Secondly, they teach you humility.  When raising a child, now don't get me wrong I've never actually done this, you have to be willing to give up time and really all of you in order to meet the needs of the child.  It is a 24/7 job.  It will humble you.  You cannot be selfish and be successful at this I do not think.  And this is what I have been kind of/slowly learning while being up here.

It has been a great time.

Late night

I am up quite late once again.  It's funny how many times I've thought to myself, 'Oh, I'll be in bed before 2am, no problem.'  Then I look at the clock and remember how ridiculous it is to think that I would be able to do that.  I am happy that tonight I was able to fix my slip-ons somewhat, hot glue is the answer.  And I got some stuff put together for the CCC College Group, like a fb page and a twitter.

Now, it's time for bed.

Healer

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands


I was listening to this song tonight.  Wow, to know that God holds us in His hands.  That nothing, NOTHING, is impossible for Him.  Ponder, meditate, and wrestle with this truth.

Nothing is impossible for God and He loves us so much that He holds us in His hands.

Listen to Healer (by Hillsong) on YouTube.

Missing India

Today I was stopped at a train crossing on the way to get my dad from work.  It reminded me of India.

We crossed a lot of train tracks in India, but only once or twice did we actually have to stop because a train was passing by.  To really picture this though you have to know Indian traffic.  Well it is made up of motorcycles, cars, bicycles, camel carts, scooters, vans, makeshift cars, and such.  Now, when Indians stop at train tracks, and really just when they stop anywhere, the motor cycles try to make it to the front of the line and the rikshaws also try because they are small.  Now the only reason this is possible, because unlike the US, India does not really have traffic lanes.  It's every man and vehicle (or camel or horse) for himself.

Our team leaders had explained all this.  So one day we were stopped at the tracks in a rikshaw.  And because the trains take forever to pass the the crossing, the vehicles continued to pile as close to the track crossing bars, as was warned.  And so once the train passed it took us forever to get past the crossing and intersection next to it.

So ya, today reminded me of India again.  I really enjoyed that trip.

the lost are found

//I really, really like this song, especially for the lyrics//
//Here is a video form with lyrics: The Lost are Found (YouTube)//

Everlasting
While Earthly ages fade
In mercy
Our God Your kingdom reigns

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

In the Saviour
Injustice brought to right
For Your glory
That Your name be lifted high

Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet
Lord over everything
You are near
All of the universe at Your feet

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You Are God
Forever You will reign
The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You Are God
Forever You will reign

His thoughts are higher (way higher) than mine.

I've been reading Chan's Erasing Hell (which is very interesting) and one of the things he is pointing out in a chapter is from the well known verse in Isaiah 55, "Your thoughts are greater than mine."  I know most all of us have heard this once, twice, ten times, a hundred times but how often have we really thought about what this means.  This means that we have no right to question His ways.  We have no right to say, "Sorry God you can't do that, it is not right."  Because if we in fact could tell God what was right than that means we must be greater and higher than Him in every way.  But we aren't.  We are His clay, His creation.  We cannot tell Him what is right and what is wrong.  He created morality, not us.  He truly knows what is right to do and what isn't.  Because if He did not, would He still be God?

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this Isaiah verse and how many talks I have been given on it.  Yet so many times I am the first whether verbally or, more often, mentally to say, "God, how could you do that?  How could you be okay with just wiping out a whole group of people?  Where is the justice in that?"  And please do not get me wrong here, I believe He still wants us to question and wrestle with what He has done.  I do not think the Isaiah passage encourages us to shut up and follow His orders and reasoning like we are merely wound-up toys.  He has given us a mind and a heart to reason, debate, discuss, and wrestle with such topics of His character, His will, His methods of dealing with His people, etc.  Let's not forget though that He is still God.  And let us not dawn this mindset that we can fully understand God to the point that we can say and preach, "Oh, God would not do that!  Or, He cannot have done that?  That's not fair!'  God is justice.  He is love.  He is all-powerful and all-knowing.  We must not forget this.  And this post above all is written to myself.  I need to remember that He is God and He does know.  He has the future plans taken care of.  Should I seek Him by learning and wrestling through His decisions?  Absolutely.  Should I take on this arrogant attitude that I must be right in thinking that He should have/cannot have done that?  Nope, I am not God.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8.

Worth.

A lot of the time I judge what I do, or I quantify what I do, by some thing's worth.  Sometimes that means I will go to Starbucks to try and get some reading/work done or I will stay home and nap because I need to re-energize myself.  The funny thing is a lot of the time I miss judge some thing's worth because I am always trying not to waste my time (though if someone were to look at my facebook consumption they might say otherwise).  And I think a lot of it has to do with how I value things.  I think I need to put a little more time in correctly determining some thing's worth then just trying to make every aspect of my life efficient. 

I need a job.

So I've been waking up later than normal, like 10 or 11am.  And my days have seemed shorter as a result.  There really isn't much structure to my day.  I am taking an online class so I can work whenever I want.

So I need a job.  Haha.  I need some more structure in my days.

I would definitely appreciate prayer for this!

The daily cycle.

It's been pretty chill since returning from India.

Living in Altamonte Springs for now at home.  Still trying to decide what the spring holds.  I'm doing an online class, Intro to Philosophy to bring my GPA back up so that maybe in the spring I'll return to Jax.  For now, I am looking for a job.  I need to finish my thank you notes for India and for my birthday.  I also need to finish up my letter to send with the thank you notes.

So life is just kind of cycling right now.  Getting up, usually later than I plan, doing some homework, maybe writing a few notes.  Possibly going out to do some errands or to work at Panera.  Then either chilling at home at night or going to something in the evening.

Not to crazy.  Pretty typical.

I'd appreciate prayer for a job.  And I need some motivation to finish this post-India work.

too long.

Wow... it's almost been a year since I last posted.  Way too long.  A lot has happened.  Fall semester in Jacksonville.  Spring in Jacksonville.  And summer spent in India.  A lot has happened.


I'll try to post some more here in the next few weeks.

Peace out.

People matter.

    What really matters?  This post certainly doesn't.  You'll probably forget it like that devotional or fictional book you just were reading the other day but can't remember what it was about.  No, I'm not trying to say you're forgetful.  It's just fact.  We consume way too much visually, even if what we view/read is memorable, to remember most information.  Like that we need to love.  Yes, I have no doubt you'll forget this post.  I'm ok with that.  You better remember people though.

I was thinking today (no, don't be surprised).  It was about things that matter.  And I got to pondering, where it is so easy to do so, that so often I forget what is important.  It is often a choice I make though.  Like when I am walking behind a person and know who it is but choose not to hurry up a bit and engage them.  I often don't because they're the kind of people who it is either awkward to talk to or that once I get in a conversation with them I feel like I will never escape their clutches.  I'm just being honest.  That really is a horrible thing though.

People do matter.  The fact that I purposely go out of my way to avoid someone is so wrong.  Yes, you heard me right, wrong(!)  People are important.  When it comes down to it they really are the only thing that matters.  So I know you'll forget this post.  I hope you do actually because it does you no real good to remember it.

There's only two words I hope you've gotten out of this:  People matter.

Next time you're walking right behind that awkward person or pass that person in Starbucks but avoid eye contact because you know the minute you lock eyes you'll probably be talking with them for the next hour.  Please engage them.  And you never know when a simple conversation could make someone's day.  Believe me; you need it!

Transitions.

I hate them.  They are not easy.  They mean change.  Readjusting.  Re-scheduling.  Re-organizing.

This past Saturday saw the next step in life as I returned to the industrial yet sometimes friendly city of Jax. It's a big step from my bagel-selling summer.  I wasn't ready to come back up here.  Though I never am.

But transitions are good things.  Despite myself being against coming back up here (and not because I do not like it up here, but because of the change) I am now back and into the swing of school.  I know I hate change because it upsets the status quo.  I don't like not knowing what comes next.  And transitions mean that we must let go of the present that we understand and can hold and exchange it for something we don't know or can predict (even if it is returning to somewhere we've been before.)

But I know transitions are good because they shake me out of stagnation.  Too often in my own life I prefer something I know, something familiar because it is comfortable.  It does not require work.  Call it laziness (and it probably is that) or what ever it is but I prefer it.  And I know this has also seeped into my spiritual life.

Going to church, hanging with my Christian friends, going to my Christian events, and the like have caused me to fall (as it so often does) into a season of life where I do those things and kind of let life pass me by without taking action.  And it is a dangerous thing because I am not being the man God has made me to be.  He has called me and every other believer to action.  Not to sit around like a stagnant pool that grows algae.  And that is why we need transitions.

That is why I need transitions.  I think that is one reason we have transitions in our lives.  I wouldn't put it passed God to use the many changes in our lives to stir us up from out complacency.  So live life with purpose.  Really live it.  Don't let it pass you by.

Contentment.

Wow.  This is a subject I really cannot even begin to write on because I struggle so much in this area.  It's so hard for me to be content with where I am right now.  Would I much rather say "I'm really content and life could not be better"?  Yes!  But honestly I'm just not there right now.  Don't get me wrong though, I am, and know quite well, that I am blessed in so many ways.  More ways than I can list.  But for a long time there has been a constant discontentment in my life.  Now I know everyone is discontent at different times for many reasons.  But this is different.

I find myself wishing I looked different, had certain friends, have some sort of popularity (it's shallow I know), had a better walk with God, more spirituality, etc.  There is just an overall discontentment in my life.  It's a lot I know.  Don't worry I'm not going to do anything drastic and I am not overly depressed.  I am just discontent.  Now I know this is not good.  When I am discontent it leads to all sorts of sin.  I become jealous of people, self-centered, and turn inward and not let anyone in.  I know this is something I'm going to have to work through before I can move on in certain areas of life, it's just hard.  I wish it would be as easy saying I don't want this or I don't want to be like that.  But it's not that easy.  I would appreciate prayer in this area.

"I know both how to have a little, and I know hoe to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content]--whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need."
Phil. 4:12

#documentlife: ella jane icardi