Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Being Content
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:11-12
What is this secret that Paul is talking about? I want to be content.
How can I be content with my job? It's not necessarily what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I didn't graduate from college and find myself in my dream job. No, that did not happen at all. Instead I find myself working at a coffee shop. No I did not go to school to be a barista or to work in the kitchen. While I love my job at times, like any job, it has it's frustrations. I truly am grateful for my job and the way the Lord has provided for me. I am able to pay my bills and put food on my table.
How can I be content with feeling stuck in the States when I would rather be in Haiti? I have tasted what it is like to work with the poor and serve people who are truly grateful. I serve people every day at my job, but most of them seem to be anything but grateful. I feel called to be serving in another country, but it has become obvious that now is not the time.
So once again, how do I learn to be content. I think Paul gives me the answer in verse 13. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." So with Christ I can have the strength to graciously smile at a customer when they jab me with their words. With Christ I can find ways to serve others here, and teach my heart to love people here as I love the ones I met in Haiti. With Christ I can be content, because He is ultimately all that I need. It sounds simple and like a cheesy Sunday school answer, but the fact of the matter is...this is what I'm learning right now. He is teaching me that He is all I need, whether I'm here in North Carolina, in Haiti, or on the other side of the world.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
1 positive of the day
So lately I have noticed how easy it is for me to focus on the negative things that happened during the day rather than the positives. I have decided to try to pick out at least one positive thing that happened during my day. I used to work with a staff that ended our day with what we called highs and lows. We gave everyone a time to complain for a little bit about something negative, but everyone had to finish their turn with something positive. I found that it really helped me feel good about my day, and not be so consumed with my problems and wrapped up in myself. I also realize that my "problems" really aren't that problematic. So here goes this experiment.
Today really was a good day. I was dead at church this morning. Sara had to go to work at noon so I decided to get up early and go to the early service with her. (For those of you who do not know who Sara is, she is my housemate and best friend) It's nice to be able to ride to church together, which we haven't done since a couple weeks before I went to Haiti. Although I felt dead and had a headache because I had not had coffee, it was a good service and good discussion in Bible Fellowship. I enjoyed spending time with Sara while we were driving to and from church. We were able to talk without the distractions of all the things we have to get done when we are home. We stopped to get some coffee which got some caffiene pumping through our veins and relieved my headache.
Another big positive for the day is that I got to have lunch with my good good friend Brittany. She lives in the area, but we don't get to hang out a lot, or at least not as much as we would like. Anyway it was so good to sit in the crazy food court at the mall and just catch up on life. Somehow we managed to have a great conversation over the sounds of screaming children. I love listening to what's going on in her life and the random crazy things she encoutners, and the decisions she has to make. She is one of those people who is easy to relate to and confide in.
So those are some positives from the day and the day is definitely not over yet. So let the good things keep on coming.
Today really was a good day. I was dead at church this morning. Sara had to go to work at noon so I decided to get up early and go to the early service with her. (For those of you who do not know who Sara is, she is my housemate and best friend) It's nice to be able to ride to church together, which we haven't done since a couple weeks before I went to Haiti. Although I felt dead and had a headache because I had not had coffee, it was a good service and good discussion in Bible Fellowship. I enjoyed spending time with Sara while we were driving to and from church. We were able to talk without the distractions of all the things we have to get done when we are home. We stopped to get some coffee which got some caffiene pumping through our veins and relieved my headache.
Another big positive for the day is that I got to have lunch with my good good friend Brittany. She lives in the area, but we don't get to hang out a lot, or at least not as much as we would like. Anyway it was so good to sit in the crazy food court at the mall and just catch up on life. Somehow we managed to have a great conversation over the sounds of screaming children. I love listening to what's going on in her life and the random crazy things she encoutners, and the decisions she has to make. She is one of those people who is easy to relate to and confide in.
So those are some positives from the day and the day is definitely not over yet. So let the good things keep on coming.
Monday, September 5, 2011
"I am a nerd"...There I said it.
So this fine Labor Day morning I have been doing some research on introverts and introversion. It's a positive of having graduated... I can research topics that actually interest me. I find this interesting because I am 1. An introvert myself. 2A psychology major so these types of things interest me. and 3. A nerd. Yes, I admit I like reading about what other people have been studying and researching. (I also just like reading in general. I'm turning into my grandpa and have a list of books I want to read).
This morning I was reading Owl City's blog and stumbled across a blog on introverts. It is not "professional research" that I found intriguing, but the people they quoted. Dr. Marti Laney, who wrote, "The Introvert Advantage," (and yes I almost bought the book off Amazon this morning), writes about brain chemistry in introverts and extroverts. Basically, neurotransmitters follow different paths in the nervous system of introverts and extroverts. Introverts and overly sensitive to Dopamine. According to Psychology Today, "Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them." Because of an introverts sensitivity to dopamine, when they become overloaded by external stimulation they feel emotionally overwhelmed and drained.(Man, I wish I had my biological psychology book right now.)
Extroverts can't get enough Dopamine so they require adrenaline so their brains can create enough dopamine for them to feel "filled up." That's why extroverts want to go out for the evening. They need some kind of adrenaline to create the dopamine they need. Whereas, introverts would rather stay at home to rest and process everything they were overloaded with during the day.
I remember the first time I learned all of this it blew my mind. It was good to read it again as a refresher. This led to some more reading and I found "The Introverts Corner" on Psychology Today's website.
I read this article, "Are extroverts better looking?" Scientists have suggested that good looking babies and children are rewarded with lots of attention, they respond, and become very sociable, thus becoming extroverts. This created many thoughts and questions for me. First, what about first born children? I was the first, meaning I got all the attention from my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I was also a very good looking and healthy baby. I responded well to all the attention from what my parents have told me. Yet, I did not become an extrovert. This theory also seems to imply that extroversion is learned, so how does this relate to Dr. Laney's theory of how the neurotransmitters follow different paths for introverts and extroverts> Is that learned too? Also how does this apply to introversion? Is that learned as well? I grew up in a household where we all read. We would go on trips and when I was really little, before I could even read, my mom would put a bag of books in the back seat with me and I would spend hours looking at pictures, and pretending to read. My father is also introverted. So did I learn to be an introvert? Growing up I wanted to be just like my dad. Did I take this to the extreme, and became introverted like him?
The article went on to say, "a case can be made for physical attractiveness increasing extroversion. But is the inverse true? Does unattractiveness increase introversion?" To this I said of course not, because I know lots of beautiful introverts.
I have been reading a lot more interesting things on introversion, but I will save it for another time because this post has gotten much longer than I originally intended it to be.
This morning I was reading Owl City's blog and stumbled across a blog on introverts. It is not "professional research" that I found intriguing, but the people they quoted. Dr. Marti Laney, who wrote, "The Introvert Advantage," (and yes I almost bought the book off Amazon this morning), writes about brain chemistry in introverts and extroverts. Basically, neurotransmitters follow different paths in the nervous system of introverts and extroverts. Introverts and overly sensitive to Dopamine. According to Psychology Today, "Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them." Because of an introverts sensitivity to dopamine, when they become overloaded by external stimulation they feel emotionally overwhelmed and drained.(Man, I wish I had my biological psychology book right now.)
Extroverts can't get enough Dopamine so they require adrenaline so their brains can create enough dopamine for them to feel "filled up." That's why extroverts want to go out for the evening. They need some kind of adrenaline to create the dopamine they need. Whereas, introverts would rather stay at home to rest and process everything they were overloaded with during the day.
I remember the first time I learned all of this it blew my mind. It was good to read it again as a refresher. This led to some more reading and I found "The Introverts Corner" on Psychology Today's website.
I read this article, "Are extroverts better looking?" Scientists have suggested that good looking babies and children are rewarded with lots of attention, they respond, and become very sociable, thus becoming extroverts. This created many thoughts and questions for me. First, what about first born children? I was the first, meaning I got all the attention from my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I was also a very good looking and healthy baby. I responded well to all the attention from what my parents have told me. Yet, I did not become an extrovert. This theory also seems to imply that extroversion is learned, so how does this relate to Dr. Laney's theory of how the neurotransmitters follow different paths for introverts and extroverts> Is that learned too? Also how does this apply to introversion? Is that learned as well? I grew up in a household where we all read. We would go on trips and when I was really little, before I could even read, my mom would put a bag of books in the back seat with me and I would spend hours looking at pictures, and pretending to read. My father is also introverted. So did I learn to be an introvert? Growing up I wanted to be just like my dad. Did I take this to the extreme, and became introverted like him?
The article went on to say, "a case can be made for physical attractiveness increasing extroversion. But is the inverse true? Does unattractiveness increase introversion?" To this I said of course not, because I know lots of beautiful introverts.
I have been reading a lot more interesting things on introversion, but I will save it for another time because this post has gotten much longer than I originally intended it to be.
Friday, May 20, 2011
For God's Glory...
So my three years with TEAMeffort, and my whole life with my father has created in me a passion for working with my hands, particularly building things. With TEAMeffort I've had a chance to build many things including, decks, roofs, insulation & drywall, and wheel chair ramps, including this 96 ft long wheel chair ramp that I designed and built with help of 2 youth groups and my staff.
This past summer was no doubt my hardest summer with Te, but what kept me going was the youth groups that came in and my passion to work with my hands to help others for God's glory.
Growing up I was always outside or in the garage with my dad. He and my uncle were both rebuilding old cars during my childhood. Uncle Keith had a 1970 Camaro, and my dad had a 1966 Ford Pickup. They were always working ont their vehicles. My first job at a young age was to hand dad the proper tools. "Christina get me a 1/4" socket and a pair of needle nose pliers." I had his tool box mermorized and knew where things went so that I could put them back when we were finished. As I got older he taught me how to do more and more things. Finally when I was 15, it was my turn to rebuild an old car. We got my 1966 Fairlane Sedan from a friend's junk yard, also known as "The Field of Dreams." I had spent many hours with my dad trying to find parts in that junk yard, and dreaming of the potential all those old cars had. Once we got my car I could not wait to start working and spent my time pouring over parts catalogs, and dreaming of what my car would one day look like. This car is still not completed, as its progress was put on hold while I went to college. This car is something very precious to me. It is a picture of my relationship with my dad. I look at it and remember all of the long days spent together working on it. All the joking and good conversations we had while laying underneath the chasis, or bending over the engine bay.
My dad was the one to instill in me a desire to work with my hands. You see, he is a pastor, and a very good one at that. He spends his days with people, showing God's love, and preaching God's Word. However, he loves to work with his hands. I remember him saying that sometimes he thinks he should have just been a mechanic. However, I know God has called him to be a preacher. Through my dad's love of old cars, God has reached many people. Most people in our town know him as "that preacher with the old cars." He has gained a lot of people's respect this way. They know he is a genuine guy, and they feel comfortable talking to him about his cars and then about more important things. He is someone I have seen truly use his gifts and passions for God's glory. He is my dad and my hero!
Now I'm trying to figure out, How do I be like my dad? How do I use my gifts and passions for God's glory? I want to go to Haiti and help rebuild the country after the earthquake. But how do I get there? How do I get the training and the experienced needed? How do I overcome the stereotypes that working with your hands is "man's" work? How do I, as a woman, use the gift of working with my hands and build things? How do I help rebuild people's lives with the Gospel as I rebuilt my Fairlane?
This past summer was no doubt my hardest summer with Te, but what kept me going was the youth groups that came in and my passion to work with my hands to help others for God's glory.
Growing up I was always outside or in the garage with my dad. He and my uncle were both rebuilding old cars during my childhood. Uncle Keith had a 1970 Camaro, and my dad had a 1966 Ford Pickup. They were always working ont their vehicles. My first job at a young age was to hand dad the proper tools. "Christina get me a 1/4" socket and a pair of needle nose pliers." I had his tool box mermorized and knew where things went so that I could put them back when we were finished. As I got older he taught me how to do more and more things. Finally when I was 15, it was my turn to rebuild an old car. We got my 1966 Fairlane Sedan from a friend's junk yard, also known as "The Field of Dreams." I had spent many hours with my dad trying to find parts in that junk yard, and dreaming of the potential all those old cars had. Once we got my car I could not wait to start working and spent my time pouring over parts catalogs, and dreaming of what my car would one day look like. This car is still not completed, as its progress was put on hold while I went to college. This car is something very precious to me. It is a picture of my relationship with my dad. I look at it and remember all of the long days spent together working on it. All the joking and good conversations we had while laying underneath the chasis, or bending over the engine bay.
My dad was the one to instill in me a desire to work with my hands. You see, he is a pastor, and a very good one at that. He spends his days with people, showing God's love, and preaching God's Word. However, he loves to work with his hands. I remember him saying that sometimes he thinks he should have just been a mechanic. However, I know God has called him to be a preacher. Through my dad's love of old cars, God has reached many people. Most people in our town know him as "that preacher with the old cars." He has gained a lot of people's respect this way. They know he is a genuine guy, and they feel comfortable talking to him about his cars and then about more important things. He is someone I have seen truly use his gifts and passions for God's glory. He is my dad and my hero!
Now I'm trying to figure out, How do I be like my dad? How do I use my gifts and passions for God's glory? I want to go to Haiti and help rebuild the country after the earthquake. But how do I get there? How do I get the training and the experienced needed? How do I overcome the stereotypes that working with your hands is "man's" work? How do I, as a woman, use the gift of working with my hands and build things? How do I help rebuild people's lives with the Gospel as I rebuilt my Fairlane?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Graduation...what's next...
Well plans have changed for the summer.
I will not be going to Asia... I would have been leaving tomorrow. However, the trip got postponed until October.
I graduated from Montreat on the 14th. It was a crazy, hectic, hot, bittersweet, and memorable day. It was so good to have my family there. I was too caught up in the moment to cry, but seeing my parents was just what I needed this past weekend. I think sometimes I forget just how incredible they are, and also how much I am just like them :)My grandmother (Maw Maw Judy) also came up for the day. I also forget how much I am like her. She is someone who can always make me laugh with her random and blunt comments. The day consisted of lots of pictures and lots of hugs. During all of this I did not even think to say goodbye to friends and professors, which was probably good because it kept me from crying.
That night I went out with some friends. I was reminded of how incredible my friends are, how much I love them, and how protective I am over them.
One friend, Brittany has left me for a year. First she will be in South East Asia for the summer, working with sex trafficking victims. I can't express how proud I am of her. She really is someone who can conquer the world. She is strong and brave, but she is also learning how to be weak and let people help her. After the summer she will be in Kansas City, here she will get to work with at-risk youth. Britt is one of those people who says she hates challenges, but they always find her and she always faces them head on. Saturday night I said, "See you later!" to Brittany (Because we both stink at good byes). I am already missing this sister of mine. She is one of the few people who can easily make me cry. Although you may not know this strong and talented young woman, please join me in praying for her.
That night was so good to just be surrounded by people that I love and people that love me. Over the past couple weeks I have realized how important it is to be there for your friends. I have learned how we are called to love selflessly, thinking of others first.
I have also learned that sometimes I just want to handle things like a boy would and go punch someone in the face when they treat your friend wrong. But girls tend to handle things differently. Instead, they hold grudges, give you the silent treatment, bottle things up for months, finally blow up, and then things are awkward/bad. I guess neither tactics are the right way to handle problems.
Anyway that was a rabbit trail. Back to what I was saying. I lvoe my friends. And I am learning how to love them selflessly. Throughout this semester and eve year I have learned who my true friends are. It sounds cliche, but it's true. Those are the ones who have pushed me to be better, who have called me out and held me accountable, who spoke the truth out of love, who were there to hold me as I cry and listen as I slowly try to explain the things in my head.
So what's next...
This Sunday my friend Sara and I will be moving to Marion, NC. The Lord provided us a furnished place (which is exactly what we needed). He is oh so good! It still blows me away!!
I am in the process of finding a job and hopefully will be makig enough to start paying off loans. I want them gone as quick as possible.
I just want to be out of the country. I want to be doing what I love. I want to be serving and on the mission field. I know I know... the mission field can be right here. I will continue to serve the youth at my church, and will serve whoever the Lord puts me in contact with. I have to keep the right attitude and not always be looking off towards the future.
I am called to love people, all people, even the ones I want to punch in the face, and that is what I'll do! But only with His strength and grace!
I will not be going to Asia... I would have been leaving tomorrow. However, the trip got postponed until October.
I graduated from Montreat on the 14th. It was a crazy, hectic, hot, bittersweet, and memorable day. It was so good to have my family there. I was too caught up in the moment to cry, but seeing my parents was just what I needed this past weekend. I think sometimes I forget just how incredible they are, and also how much I am just like them :)My grandmother (Maw Maw Judy) also came up for the day. I also forget how much I am like her. She is someone who can always make me laugh with her random and blunt comments. The day consisted of lots of pictures and lots of hugs. During all of this I did not even think to say goodbye to friends and professors, which was probably good because it kept me from crying.
That night I went out with some friends. I was reminded of how incredible my friends are, how much I love them, and how protective I am over them.
One friend, Brittany has left me for a year. First she will be in South East Asia for the summer, working with sex trafficking victims. I can't express how proud I am of her. She really is someone who can conquer the world. She is strong and brave, but she is also learning how to be weak and let people help her. After the summer she will be in Kansas City, here she will get to work with at-risk youth. Britt is one of those people who says she hates challenges, but they always find her and she always faces them head on. Saturday night I said, "See you later!" to Brittany (Because we both stink at good byes). I am already missing this sister of mine. She is one of the few people who can easily make me cry. Although you may not know this strong and talented young woman, please join me in praying for her.
That night was so good to just be surrounded by people that I love and people that love me. Over the past couple weeks I have realized how important it is to be there for your friends. I have learned how we are called to love selflessly, thinking of others first.
I have also learned that sometimes I just want to handle things like a boy would and go punch someone in the face when they treat your friend wrong. But girls tend to handle things differently. Instead, they hold grudges, give you the silent treatment, bottle things up for months, finally blow up, and then things are awkward/bad. I guess neither tactics are the right way to handle problems.
Anyway that was a rabbit trail. Back to what I was saying. I lvoe my friends. And I am learning how to love them selflessly. Throughout this semester and eve year I have learned who my true friends are. It sounds cliche, but it's true. Those are the ones who have pushed me to be better, who have called me out and held me accountable, who spoke the truth out of love, who were there to hold me as I cry and listen as I slowly try to explain the things in my head.
So what's next...
This Sunday my friend Sara and I will be moving to Marion, NC. The Lord provided us a furnished place (which is exactly what we needed). He is oh so good! It still blows me away!!
I am in the process of finding a job and hopefully will be makig enough to start paying off loans. I want them gone as quick as possible.
I just want to be out of the country. I want to be doing what I love. I want to be serving and on the mission field. I know I know... the mission field can be right here. I will continue to serve the youth at my church, and will serve whoever the Lord puts me in contact with. I have to keep the right attitude and not always be looking off towards the future.
I am called to love people, all people, even the ones I want to punch in the face, and that is what I'll do! But only with His strength and grace!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
New Places...
Hey guys!
So there are some exciting things in the making.
First off I will be graduating from Montreat in May. That's great and all, but the adventure begins a couple days after graduation.
This summer I am going to be heading to East Asia. It's something new and different, but I know it is where I am supposed to be. We will be leaving just 5 days after I graduate. For about the first two weeks we will be with a group. We will do some sight seeing and form relationships with University students who are studying English. The group will then leave and it will be my friend Sara and I together for the rest of the summer. We are finalizing plans now as to where we will be and what exactly we will do for the rest of the summer because students of there do not have classes in June. So June will be a little different, but then we will be back with University students in July and August. We will return sometime in the beginning or middle of August.
I am so very excited for this opportunity. A lot of our time will be spent forming relationships and getting to pour into the lives of students our own age, who live on the other side of the world. I have gotten such a peace that this is where I'm supposed to be this summer. Before, I was a little worried because it is completely different from what I have ever done.
The next step is to get details nailed down and to have the support of friends and family. Not only financial support, but your prayers as well. Soon I will be sending out letters with more information. Message me on facebook or shoot me an email if you are interest, I would love to be able to update you on the new happenings in my life. Also I will keep you posted on how to stay updated while I am gone this summer. This blog will be a major way that I share with you guys, as well as email , and skype.
I love you all and thanks for taking the time to read this!
Christina
So there are some exciting things in the making.
First off I will be graduating from Montreat in May. That's great and all, but the adventure begins a couple days after graduation.
This summer I am going to be heading to East Asia. It's something new and different, but I know it is where I am supposed to be. We will be leaving just 5 days after I graduate. For about the first two weeks we will be with a group. We will do some sight seeing and form relationships with University students who are studying English. The group will then leave and it will be my friend Sara and I together for the rest of the summer. We are finalizing plans now as to where we will be and what exactly we will do for the rest of the summer because students of there do not have classes in June. So June will be a little different, but then we will be back with University students in July and August. We will return sometime in the beginning or middle of August.
I am so very excited for this opportunity. A lot of our time will be spent forming relationships and getting to pour into the lives of students our own age, who live on the other side of the world. I have gotten such a peace that this is where I'm supposed to be this summer. Before, I was a little worried because it is completely different from what I have ever done.
The next step is to get details nailed down and to have the support of friends and family. Not only financial support, but your prayers as well. Soon I will be sending out letters with more information. Message me on facebook or shoot me an email if you are interest, I would love to be able to update you on the new happenings in my life. Also I will keep you posted on how to stay updated while I am gone this summer. This blog will be a major way that I share with you guys, as well as email , and skype.
I love you all and thanks for taking the time to read this!
Christina
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