Faithful...

Well, it's about time to fill in some of the juicy details of my California life situation.

First off, I'm enjoying my job at Peet's Coffee. More details about that later. Over the weekend I was really praying that God would work out my money situation. I started work at Peet's and about the same time drained my bank account to $1.70. So, on top of being low on funds, the car needed gas, I needed $4 for a bike tube to bike to work, and I was running low on the groceries. Well, let me back track for a second to say God is so faithful of a provider. When I moved into my house here in Davis I slept on the floor for a couple nights because, obviously, I can't fit a bed in my car, so I didn't have one. Well, after a couple of days, my housemates, Wayne and Sarah, were given a king-sized bed by one of their parents. They went and picked it up and said, "Hey, you want the bed we were sleeping on?" So, I got a queen bed (an upgrade from my twin I had in Belton) straight from the hand of the Lord. Also, I was running low on clean clothes with no money to go to a laundry mat. So, about the same day that I was thinking about hand washing my clothes in the kitchen sink, they tell me that they're being given a washer and dryer. It came two days later. Oh yeah, and I was in a goodwill the previous Sunday looking to buy some shirts for work as I was starting that week; but the shirts were $4 and the pants $8. Not exactly thrift shop prices as I was expecting. All I had was a tin of coins. Well, I was asking for directions to another thrift store when this lady walks up and offers to buy me a couple of shirts and a pair of pants. Praise God! Provision.

Ok, new paragraph... sorry, long one there. So, anyways. $1.70. Well, I made some of the most awesome beans and rice I've made so far. And, my housemates out of the blue said I was welcome to any of their food which I'm doing my best to not take advantage of as much as possible, but it's nice for the basics which I can replace easily. So, then yesterday I got handed last week's tips-- my first earned money since I've been in California. Yah! I got my bike tube, enough groceries to get me through to next week, a little gas... and I got an email from someone who goes to The Mission (my church) and lives in Davis. They want to carpool regularly.

Anyways, I could go on and on... God's faithfulness is just overwhelming my heart. Better save the rest of the details for another post.

THANK YOU for praying and standing with me.

Poetry Break

Caged

Cruelty of greatest kind
  Gives working wings, but not to fly
A songbird's voice once rising higher
  Falls silent by hopeless desire
Safely caged and managed then
  Not pleasing God, nor helping men
Leaves passion and the heart divorced
  The captor's rule always enforced
But, one day love blows strong and free
  As safety bows to turning key
Revealing now for eye to see
  From lonely meadow and high tree
Timely change unearths the lie
  T'was not a cage held me; but I

by Ashtom Ghirwt

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Sometimes I feel like my life's an episode of StarTrek when I write a blog entry. You know, how the episodes start,

"Captain's log. Stardate 159 dash 682. We entered the orion nebula...etc."

Anyways... I'm not entering any nebulas today, so don't worry. But I did start work at Peet's Coffee today. You know, I think it's kinda weird, but the Lord could be showing me something with this job. Starbucks and Peet's are almost opposite in their approach to the coffee house scene--Peet's being way more laid back almost across the board. I did find, however, that Starbucks training is better organized and mushy-feeling. Peet's trains by fire. Today was like being a piece of meat thrown onto a hot skillet in a microwave kitchen... ok, maybe I'm being overly dramatic, but it was seriously sensory overload. It's going to be extremely good...err, once I stop sizzling.

I'm also in the process of applying to the iWar (Institute for Worship Art Resources) school at my church in Vacaville. I'm really hungry to grow both in my giftings and in my experience with God. I believe God's made me a worshipper of Him in spirit and in truth and I want to run with that as far and as long as He provides for me. Anyways, you can check out the school at http://iwarschool.com/.

God is an amazing provider. It's like I can't outgive or outlive His provision. I just wonder how far I can run with this reality.... so far, so good, eh?

Very good.

Coffee Loves Company

Here we go again..........

I'm so thankful for Jesus. Without him my life would go in circles around an endless mountain. But with him, even if life looks like circles they have purpose and a meaning beyond my control.

So, the last few days were really hard. In the last week, I applied at about 10 different places in 3 towns. It's emotionally exhausting to put yourself out there over and over again and not see interest. So, I'll have to be honest, I was fighting internally whether God was going to bless this move or not. This was a real fight for my spirit to arise and really keep going and trust that I am walking with God.

Yesterday was day three of tough discouragement; but, thanks to grace, I kept going and applied at a grocery store and then Peet's Coffee. And I got hired at Peet's! There's no way for me to express how thankful I am for this job. I think every other job I've had has just happened--haven't needed to fight for it. But this one I've worked hard to find.

I think it's going to be much different from here on out.

A new home...

Tomorrow I'll be moving into the house that I'll be living at for who knows how long. It's a really neat place, though. It's in Davis, CA - centrally located between Vacaville and Sacramento.

My room is on the top floor of an A-frame house and is one of the largest rooms. It even has a small balcony! Downstairs it has a small cottage type feel and is perfect for me and my two (three eventually) housemates. The house is located on a small farm that boards and trains horses.

So, God continues to lead. I found this place in like one day and it's perfect for my financial needs.