Don't Take Away My Blessing

I have awesome friends... just going to get that out there. The shirt and hat in this picture (along with a pair of shoes not shown) were recently given to me by some really great friends, just 'cuz.

My initial reaction is "No... you can't buy that for me. Just because I don't have money doesn't mean you need to spend yours."

Then I remember, or am reminded, of the life lesson Pastor Vinnie has told us over and over again. Don't take away my blessing. Think about it, if you do something awesome for someone, you want them to enjoy it, not feel guilty about it. So, take that and turn it around... don't feel guilty when someone does something nice for you. That's a pride issue, for me anyway...

I LOVE giving gifts to people. I love everything from creating intricate plans (involving sending a letter one word a day for a few weeks), crafty stuff (painting anyone? ductape belt???), to the detailed wrapping (I'm pretty happy with my bow making skills - taught to me by one capable mother. Though I am ashamed to admit that my brother can actually wrap better than I can). Anyway, so when people get my gifts, I really want them enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. No guilt. Same with anything else, if I offer to buy your coffee... just take it. No need to try to talk me out of it. :)

Why is it so hard to go the other way? Pastor Pettet has said multiple times that it's easier to give than to receive. It seems backwards, but it is very true.

So, I won't become a moocher, but I also promise not to take away your blessing.

Claudia and Roni, Thank you! I appreciate it, you made my week that much better!

Porque "Que Seguinte?"

Why "What Next?"

Growing up, I went on A LOT of mission trips... mostly to an orphanage in Mexico called Bob and Betty King Ministries to do whatever they needed us to do (lots of digging and laundry if I recall correctly).

One year, the mantra was "¿Que Sigue?", or "What Next?" in Spanish. The point was to remind us that there was always more to do and our attitude should always be a willingness to work and ask "what next?" This has become the personality of our church; everywhere we go we continue to do a job and immediately find or ask for the next one.

Fast forward: Earlier Today.

What would be a good title for my blog?"

As a college student about to go into my last year of my undergrad, I'm certainly trying to figure out what's next. The past week has been an insane time of making decisions for my future. "What next God?" It seems like such a constant question and sometime I really wish it would go away. I wish I would just know what's next and be able to walk in it. I don't really want to know my ENTIRE life, but seeing a little further seems like it would be helpful...

God apparently has different ideas about what He wants to tell us. We've all heard the analogy that life's like a puzzle, and we only see a few pieces at a time now. I'm tired of thinking about that phrase/saying, but it is true. I've also been told that if God let us know everything we would do in our lives, we probably wouldn't believe it or even want to do it. That's probably true too.

Anyway, right now I'm asking "What next?" and I suppose I'll always be asking. I hope I will anyway. I never want to lose my desire to follow in God's plan, and I never want to lose the willingness to do what's put in front of me and then go find the next task. There's far too much work to do for me to sit without a purpose.

One more thing: What language is it? the original was Que Sigue in Spanish right? Yep. Now it's in Portuguese. This is something too long to explain in one blog post, so I won't really try. Anyway, if you really know me, you already know why it's in Portuguese. At any rate, it will suffice to say that Brazil has my heart and I am planning on heading back to do missions work with Lighthouse International.

Que Seguinte? I don't know exactly, but I do know where I need to take my next few steps; that's enough. Past that I have to trust God to give me the answers as I need them.