Awake

I was awake. So awake that I thought hard and long, because at 1 am, 2 am, 3 am, and 4 am, I was alone and miserably awake. It's a mystery to me, why some nights I just can't sleep. Is it something I ate or drank? Something on my mind? Is my bed too slanted? (my bed collapsed and is now being held up on one side by books). My body was just there, thinking about all the possibilities for my lack of tiredness. Last night was different than most sleepless nights...It wasn't that I just couldn't sleep, it was the fact that I was just not tired, I was undoubtably WIDE awake.

I was once told that sometimes in our times of restlessness or sleepless nights, the cause could be not a circumstance or something we ate or drank, but merely a time to speak to God or more importantly, to listen.

So I prayed.

As I sit here thinking about my long night, I think the biggest thing that gets me is the word "awake."

I have realized I am not very awake. Last night I was awake and alone in my own ideas, prayers, and thoughts and I was REALLY awake.

I was really there. My mind was there and my surroundings were on pause.

I have realized I am not a very awake person during my days of living. I want to be awake! I want to know what I am thinking and dig deep into myself and my surroundings. I want to know myself even deeper and I want to be aware of what is happening within my soul. Because I am never going to know where I want to go and the person I am meant to become if I don't wake up everyday.

The Power of a Sticky Note

I go to Life Center, an amazing non denominational church. The pastor there is phenomenal, just incredible! He is full of wisdom and inspirational words every week that I ACTUALLY get excited for the next sermon. My friends and I are always asking, "I wonder what Pastor Joe's new series is on?!" He is pretty much a celebrity amongst us Whitworthians.

The new series for the next few weeks is called "Pass it on." It is all about being a Christian and passing it on to the world. Sharing the love. Being disciples. All the good stuff we are created to do!

Last Sunday (the first day of the new series) Pastor Joe had everyone take out a handout in our programs that said "love list" above it. We were asked to take a few moments and write down a few names of people that we love that we want to come to know the Lord. It was our new prayer list. Our new mission.

We were then asked to write each name on a sticky note and put it up around the walls of the church. This church is HUGE, and after thousands of sticky notes were on the walls, the walls were covered. The church was covered in names of people that need us everyday. People that need God. In just one church, in one city, we were surrounded by thousands and thousands of people that need us to "pass it on."

I was sitting next to a really great guy that day, and he texted me last night and told me that a friend of his told him he wanted to become a Christian yesterday. After I replied with excitement, I then received a message that said " I put his name on a sticky note."

I put his name on a sticky note...goodness...that just sank right in and gave me chills all over my body.

How incredible!

there are so many good things going on in life right now, but i am having trouble finding inspiration to write!

This is my favorite song right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3CqR_m6NO0&feature=related

Valentines Day

I have never big a big fan of V-day...Not because I am a lonely single who hates to be single, but because I find it a day hard to make truly special when such force and pressure is behind it. Who loves a day filled with expectations and force? Not me.

Tomorrow, a big group of us are getting together. Mostly singles, one married, one dating (husband and bf are out of town), and just a big group of funny and kind people.

I think that tomorrow, might just be my favorite Valentines Day yet!

Presently My Favorite Quote:

Have faith. Breakdowns can create breakthroughs. Things falls apart, so that things can fall together. -Dan Zadra

Walla Walla Comes To Spokane!

To all you Walla Walla people...Thanks for brightening up Spokane this weekend. It was a TRUE blessing to have you here!

Connections

My favorite word right now is connections.

I really love people. I love the people who surround me every week, the people that let me see how real people are and how connected we can be.

When I was on vacation last week my family and I were SO connected. My sisters and I got a long so well. We shared secrets...Ah, I love secrets!

When we were growing up we never wanted to tell each other anything. We kept things from each other. Sometimes just because we could. Sometimes because we didn't want mom or dad finding out. And sometimes just to hold it over each other's heads that we knew something they didn't. Haha...

I've realized secrets are a big deal. They bring people together. Secrets are connections.

My sisters have all shared things with me that have ended with, "You are the only one I have told this to..."

I love that saying...It's like hearing, "I trust you more than anyone else, and right now I know that what I say is going to be so real, sometimes good sometimes bad, but real. And I know that whatever I tell you, you will treasure, you will listen, and that is all I need right now."

BOOM! Connected.

My best friend came back from a month in Peru on Monday. We have been inseparable all week. I just have so much fun with Annalise. She is so honest and down to earth. Everyone loves her. I could not be so thankful for such a strong connection with a friend.

Kara is in France. We write and skype often. Even though she is SO far away, I feel more connected to her than those I see everyday. God has given me a friend that I am so thankful for.

When I feel a new connection between a person and me, for whatever reason, it just feels like God has placed that person in my life for that exact moment.

These connections fill my moments with living.