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Listening and Doing

The last few days I have had the hardest time figuring out what my next post was going to be. Then all of the sudden, today, I got the urge to read the book of James. WOW :D How fitting was that for me to read! It tied in perfectly with what I have been experience in my walk with God this last week. Not only has that Scripture summed up the last 6 weeks of my journey, it has pushed and motivated me through the slump I have been going through. After getting into the first 4 verses of the chapter, I immediately dove into my journal and started writing. I would like to go through that Chapter with you in sections and share its personal connection with me.  I'm using the New Living Translation. If you don't like that; I don't care. haha :)

James 1:1-4 "This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

We all do things that we don't like, yet we for some reason we keep doing those things. In Romans 7:15, Paul writes: "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead I do what I hate." It is amazing how this happens. However, each time we overcome those times of testing and our endurance grows, we are able to defeat that sin. I personally do not believe that we will be "perfect and complete, needing nothing", but we will no longer be tested in that area because we have defeated that sinful desire. The enemy can try so many times before we show him defeat. Ya dig?

James 1:5-11 "5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements."

This to me means that if we aren't serious when we ask God to help us and give us wisdom, then He won't be serious in the same way. After all, He can see our heart. He can see our intentions long before we can. Even if we think we are being serious with Him, He knows our true intentions. However, if our reasoning is pure, then He is willing to give. Trust me, I have experienced this myself! Both ways!

James 1:12-18 "12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession."

I find this part of Scripture to be pretty cool. Well all of it is pretty cool. We are all tempted. With our own personal desires and sins; we are all tempted. When I did YWAM almost 7 years ago, I think the only thing I have taken from it is, "Thoughts from God are good, positive, and uplifting. Thoughts from the devil are wrong, hurtful, and deceiving". God equals good. Devil equals bad. The Spirit of God will never tempt us. Like the Scripture says, it comes from our own personal and fleshly desires. Once we endure the task at hand, the Lord gives us more. He NEVER gives us more than we can handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says it perfectly: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." Stay strong and keep trying! God honors a willing heart.

James 1:19-27 "19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

I split this next section into 3 even though they tie into each other. We all get angry. We all get short with each other and things happen. Jesus even got angry. He still spoke out of love and didn't give into His anger. In one way I have really asked for help and encouragement is while driving. Guess what? I don't get angry while driving anymore. We all have accidentally cut someone off. We all have had to suddenly switch lanes and almost caused an accident. And guess what? We probably have all not paid attention because we were texting and caused something to happen while driving. We have all done it. It is amazing on how personal people take driving and how angry they get. If anyone knew me growing up, they would all agree I needed to learn to think before I spoke. I wouldn't say that I have fully grasped that concept, but I am doing much better than before. Just think how much more peaceful life would be if you weren't really able to get angry anymore? It can happen. I believe it!

It is so funny how Scripture has been able to have real life instances for me lately. Just the other day I met with a friend for lunch and him and I had a full conversation of how it is easy to read Scripture only to understand the concept and meaning behind it. It is great that we are able to understand it, but I believe that is only half of the process. You can ask most my teachers growing up, as much as I tried to convince them, 50% on a test isn't passing. If you read a Scripture one morning and it says to "love your neighbors as yourself" and you continue to make fun of and beat down those who are around you, then you really haven't gotten anywhere even though you understood completely what the Scripture that morning said. It doesn't do you any good to let it go in and out without letting any of it soak into your life.

The last part to me is more about your testimony to those around you. If you're a negative Nancy, gossip Gina, or lying Lina, then what unsaved person is really going to take you serious? Why would they want to be apart of that? Not only that, how would they even see a difference in who you were than to how they act? Remember it takes listening to what the Lord wants in your life, then doing. 

I hope I don't get too long winded when writing these blogs. I really would like to keep them short, sweet, and to the point. Have a great weekend everyone! I will be moving into my new place on Sunday. YAY!!! :D

Charlie Rinne

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Einstein State of Mind

I am alive! Skydiving was a success! 14,000 ft over the earth and my guide and I plunged to the ground. The view was spectacular after I opened my eyes haha! It was exhilarating, intense, and worth doing! I will be going again! :)

July is over! Well, tomorrow is the last day but it is pretty much in the books. Days go by like minutes to me. In my last post I mentioned a home that was in the prospects. I have good news! I move in August 11th. All has worked and I will have a place to finally fully unpack and call home. It seems as if everything is really coming together. Now only if I could find a bed...

I have another "ah ha!" moment with God I want to share. Since I have been here, all the teachings and personal studies I have done have more-or-less been under the same topic. That topic is action; doing. Going out and actually making something of what is going on inside of your mind. I had to make the actions to sell my house. I had to stay active in finding a place a suitable place for me and my dog. I have learned more about making yourself and nothing comes and sits in your lap than I ever have before in my life. 

There is a Spiritual sense to this as well. When God called me to Nashville and I thought of all my plans in my mind and made all these decisions to do so then I never did them; what good is that? If the Holy Spirit nudges you to not do something and you never actively make any changes or make plans on how you're going to prevent these happenings, then it is a waste of time. Therefore, there needs to be some sort of plan, an outline of what it looks like you want/don't want to do. I'll get more specific in a minute after I explain how this ties into what is going on at church. (Yet ANOTHER example of one of those God-coincidence things).

My Pastor, Lyle Philips, during the month of July has been teaching about Mission/Vision. I am not going to go into great depth about it, mainly because I wouldn't do the topics justice, but I would like to explain a little. We all have a mission on earth. To some it is to become an engineer; others a musician, and so on.  People don't go to Law school because their mission is to become a weatherman. Their mission is to become a Lawyer. The vision is what that mission looks like. They go to school, study, and prepare, as well as they can to take the LSAT. After the LSAT, they take the Bar Exam, and so on. In the same way, some people think as missionaries and some think as visionaries. People see the vision of what they want to do before they see the mission of what they need to do and vice-versa. Neither way is right and neither way is wrong. However, what they need is to take an action. If one sits at home and wishes they could do something and continues to sit at home then nothing will be accomplished. I am sure most have you have heard this quote from Albert Einstein, but if not, here it is: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Pretty on-point. One important detail that Lyle has explained is to put it on paper. Write down your Mission and how you are going to get there. Write down your Vision and what it looks like to you. Write down exact plans. Write down your Goals in what you want to accomplish. Write down your steps to accomplish. THEN GET STARTED. It isn't going to happen without your own personal movement. 

This may sound so elementary to you, but it has sparked me! Back to how this applies to me personally. I know God has asked me to get rid of stuff in my life. If I don't make an actual mission/vision to change to my behavior, how do I expect myself to change those things? It has gone as far as no longer talking to a few people, and as far as if I know something is going on at a gathering of friends, I don't go. I know God has called me to be as full of His Holy Spirit as possible. To keep pushing myself in His presence and letting go of the stuff that is not. I no longer am to live "lukewarm". I have actively made a conscious decision to change my behavior and I am submerging myself around like company.

What is cool is that once you make an effort to change those things and are successful, then they become natural. Think of it in terms of starting a new job. The first few weeks you're getting adjusted. You have an uncomfortable feeling and things are choppy. You may make more mistakes than normal because you're getting used to a new way of working. But because you make those mistakes do you give up? NO! You keep going and trying. After that initial break-in period at that job, that job becomes second nature to you and you no longer make the mistakes you once did when you first started; Maturity, if you will. On top of that, you look back and laugh at yourself on how much of a noob you were once you first started working there! Amen!?!

What is cool is that I finally understand the meaning of when people said God wants all of who you are. You can't hold onto things that is preventing the flow of the Holy Spirit. A lot of you know I went through a tough breakup a few years back and I have known that I have held onto that and let it prevent me from a lot. Once I had completely let go of that situation, the Holy Spirit was able to occupy that space. The same is with the stuff that He is working in me now. The more I let go of the more He can take over. An extreme example of this that hit home is in Joshua 7. Joshua was leading the Israelites east. They were given distinct instruction from the Lord to burn and destroy everything once defeating a city. Nothing was to be kept or salvaged. Well a man the name of Achan found some stuff to be pretty cool and kept some stuff from a battle. Once this happened, the next battle they went to they were defeated. To find out it was because of one man being dishonest and keeping that cool stuff that they lost that battle. In other words, the Lord wanted them all to be on the same page; in unison. The result ended in him being killed because he compromised the Promise Land to Israel. I'm sure glad I don't live in those times! To me, the moral of the story is that the Holy Spirit wants ALL OF US. We can't be holding onto other things and expecting the Holy Spirit to be fully fluent in us. 

Anyways, I hope this has made sense. To do the same thing over and over again and expecting a change is insanity. I mean this to be of motivation to you, not as "look at me, look what I have accomplished". It is a progress, like starting a new job! :) Hope all is well with everyone! Have a great week!

Charlie Rinne

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where in vanderbilt do you work?

I don't work at Vanderbilt. Just down the street from it in Midtown. Being I'm from across the nation, I'm trying to help my family and paint a picture for them to see where I live.

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Up to Speed

Nashville is an amazing place to call home. I’m learning more and more about myself and what my purpose is here as days go by. Since my last post, I have started working and I am already through training! Thus why I haven’t posted in the last week or so. It’s been an adjustment getting back into work after almost 7 weeks off! Right now my trade is being a server at a very fast paced restaurant in the heart of Vanderbilt University. The part of town is called Midtown. It is a very trendy and popular part of town. I am very thankful for my new job and I know it is where God has placed me.

How do I know?

My first day off training I was serving tables by myself. After my very first table got their meal, the five ladies all prayed before eating. I made a quick comment about how that was rare where I came from and how I liked that we even had “meal prayers" on the back of our silverware holders. They quickly started asking me where I was from, why I moved here, and what I was looking for. We got into a conversation throughout their meal about God is working in my life and the big plans He has for me. Such a blessing!!! It was so cool to talk about God with my tables! I don’t think that ever happened before; then again that wasn’t what I was really about previously.

My last table of the day went about the same way. I talked to these two ladies for about 20 minutes. They go to a church here in Nashville, but were inclined about checking out my church being that I picked up and moved across the nation for it. I wrote down the details for my church on a piece of paper and gave it to them. Again, something that I know was a God coincidence. ;)

It was the Lord’s way of telling me that I have made the right decision on where to work. I know I am doing His will currently. As far as in the future? I don’t know. I don’t see myself waiting tables forever. Or for longer than necessary. I know when the time comes the Holy Spirit will direct me.

Next up is a place to live. This is where God is being beyond a provider. I have been looking for a room to rent for me and Bella (my dog) since I got here in mid June. Everything has fallen through the cracks because of one reason or another. (One place I went to visit the roommate told me they sold their Vicodin from their concussion to pay for rent…Really?! You’re going to tell a future roommate that?!) Anyways, just yesterday I get a phone call from a friend of mine saying she possibly has her home opening up the end of this week and it would be ready by August 1st. I need a home by August 1st so don’t have to stay at my place another month. Also, it isn’t just a room for rent. It is an entire home and a place for me and my dog! Also, she said she may even be able to keep it furnished which would be an even bigger blessing!!

I asked for a suitable room for rent and I possibly get a 3 bedroom/2 bath home. SO COOL! Also, I didn’t just want any roommates as roommates. I wanted roommates who would be supportive, uplifting, and that held the same standards as I do. There are 2 brothers at my church that are on fire for God and just moved here as well. They are currently staying in a cheap hotel until they find something that also fits their needs. As soon as I told them about the possibility of this house opening up they immediately jumped on the opportunity! Praise God!

I just ask for your prayer on the situation on the home. I am not going to go into full detail, but it would be a huge blessing if it were able to work out for us. However, a bummer situation on the current tenant in the home as they are being asked to leave. I don’t wish anyone to be kicked out of their home like that. It’s a difficult situation.

Needs are being met and deadlines are being fulfilled. Tomorrow I am going skydiving with a few coworkers. I’ve asked myself why I’m doing this and the answer is undetermined. But, why not? It seems to be right in line with everything that is going on in life for me. I feel like I’ve been skydiving since I left Oregon which is now almost 6 weeks. What is the worst that can happen? Kidding, but for some reason I don’t feel anxious about going at all! I’m sure that’ll change quickly when I’m standing at the door looking down.

Anyways, I already know what I am going to write about in my next post but I wanted to get everyone caught up on what has been going on the last week or so. Also, I want to be very precise with how I write my next entry. For some reason I have the feeling to tell my family that I love and miss them. I think about all of you everyday! I know they are reading and I have felt a little bit of homesickness this week.

Before I go I want to leave you with a song that my church, Iris, has been playing the last few weeks. It has strengthened me and I have been listening to it through the week to keep me going. Very powerful song once put on repeat. :D Soak in it and hope you enjoy!

-Charlie Rinne

Set a Fire - Will Reagan - Lyrics (by melissaxxdv)

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Actions of a true Man/Woman

I must say I am having a blog identity crisis. I can't say that I know the direction that I see this all going. I want to leave it open to whatever goes, I guess, and to make sure that I keep "ya'll"  (I'm becoming Southern) updated with what has/is going on in my life. At the same time, I see this as a great medium to show what God has been revealing and teaching me in His Word. More or less a way to get out my thoughts, feelings, praises, prayers, my ups, and my downs. Okay, its going to be my online diary. Ha!

With that being said, I have something to show you! (To the tune of Stu in The Hangover..google it if you don't know what I'm talking about!)

This morning I was wondering what I should read and journal about in the Bible. The first thing that came into mind was what it looks like to "act" like a man. I not only want to go to Church and do "churchy" things, I want to live it out in my actions. I don't want to just be a Sunday-to-Sunday church boy. Not really knowing where to start in my 1,200 page B-I-B-L-E, I googled the fruits of the Spirit. I remember being taught a song when I was in Sunday school as a child, so If anything, I knew this would be a good start. Ask me to sing it to you sometime! Wait, no don't do that. 

Now, I was the kid in high school that did NOT like English/Literature class. Actually, I didn't know why anyone would besides the ultra smart kids who understood/payed attention to everything. I was more on the page of girls, basketball, and well that's about it. Who remembers in English class having to dissect old English literature and poems from Medieval times?! Not only are they hard to read, they are impossible (for me) to decipher. I remember going home and reading them over and over and over and not getting anywhere. Spinning my minds' wheels an giving up. This is how I have felt about Scripture of the Bible in the past. Reading and reading and reading the same Scripture over and over and over and not sustaining any of it!

The Scripture that I read this morning could not have come more clear. There's a saying if it was any closer to me it would have hugged me...or something like that. 

The Scripture I am talking about is Galatians 5. I'm not going to go through it verse by verse but I am going to show you the part that is so lined out that it couldn't become any more specific.

A little history, this is Paul writing a letter to the churches of Galatia. 

Galatians 5:16-21: "16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

It is like the Lord knows that in this time I am needing to be spoon fed. Literally laying it out in laymen terms. In my days, like pretty much everyone, I have experienced every single one of those. Okay, maybe not sorcery. I'm afraid of that stuff anyways. He is CLEARLY laying out what it is like to be one with the Holy Spirit and clearly laying out what it is NOT to be. How awesome is that?!

Now the best part:

Galatians 5:22&23: 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

I just love how straight forward these verses are. There's no guessing what they're saying. Its like a pros and cons list; a line drawn in the sand. You can't argue that the fruits of the Spirit are how a real man does. Anyways, enough from my soapbox. I was just touched by this reading today :)

In other news, I start my job tomorrow at 9 am. It is at a restaurant here in the middle of Nashville. The cool part is that it is similar to the restaurant that I left back at home, so it should be a smooth transition for me. Also, I had a very cool and blessed birthday weekend. I am thankful for my friends that I have made in my short time here. Thank you to those who have reached out and encouraged me about this blog. I'm more or less just obeying and doing what I'm told. 

I love you all!

Charlie

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Coincidence is More

I have learned so much already in my time here and I have experienced even more. It is wild when you shift your mindset to let the Holy Spirit direct you what He will accomplish through you.

I have had a lot of "coincidences" happen to me while I've been here. Sure, it is a coincidence that someone wears the same shirt as you one day or that you have the same favorite spot to hang as a new friend. Coincidences happen all the time. But these are different coincidences I'm talking about. Let me explain (I have so many examples I'm trying to just pick a few to keep it relatively short):

Last Sunday I got to Church early. I walked in and there was a man standing there getting coffee and we introduced ourselves. After a quick brief of each other, He had heard of me before. What?!? Previously, my Pastor had told him that someone (me) had watched the "About Iris" video and decided to Nashville from Oregon. He immediately told me I was an inspiration to him and that he wants to follow my blog. Well, at the time I didn't have a blog. Just weeks before, I told my mom I wanted to start a blog or something but didn't know what I would say or use it for. Coincidence? HA!.. Furthermore, I found out that during service that He is a missionary to India and starting a, now I don't know all the details, refuge-like church. Their mission is to, more-or-less, rescue children from Human Trafficking/Sex Slavery, and hear their story. With that they are going to write a song of their story. Beyond that, they want to fully help these children to find their talents and teach them within those talents. Whether that is music, sports, ministry, whatever.

Remember in my last post I said my heart and passion is to work with broken/hurt children? Coincidence or a move of the Holy Spirit? Needless to say, we exchanged contact info. I am sure we will be in contact in the future. (Sorry Shawn if I didn't relay some of this information correctly!)

Another example of "coincidence": I am not computer savvy..at all. I know how to Facebook and surf the web as well as anyone else. When it comes to anything technical, I am as bad as anyone's grandparents. In fact, I'm sure there are grandparents who could teach me how to use a computer. I'm talking about writing code, HTML, or even figuring out how to write a blog :D.

Just as I was writing my first blog, I didn't know how to embed the Iris video into my blog. Was it coincidence that I asked a guy who was sitting next to me if he knew how to do it that:

He just moved from Los Angeles a day before I got into town.

He also goes to Iris Nashville.

(here's the kicker) He writes code/html/whatever you want to call it for a living. 

He helped me and we became friends. Call that coincidence all you want. I call it God. I call that the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Want another example? Sure...

I told you in my previous post that I didn't have a job secure and a place to call home. (Right now I have a huge smile on my face and I'm sure the people at this coffee shop think I'm kooky. Who cares, I probably am.) After doing a little job searching yesterday, I start Monday at a Brewery in town and have my 3rd of three interviews for another place tomorrow.

What about a place to stay? Well, I got into contact with some people from Iris and one of the guys I have made friends with there is having two roommates go on tour and moving out starting August 1st. Another guy is moving out of his home with his roommate and needs a new house to stay in starting August 1st. Both in East Nashville. Where I wanted to live since before I moved here. COME ON!!! Coincidence? I would be a simpleton, a buffoon, a dunce to think that is not God's hand working in my life. I initially listened to the voice of the Lord to move here and He is taking care of me. To me, its is God telling me I am doing His Will; that He hasn't forgotten me. More importantly it is showing me everyday that I made the right decision. An example of sewing and reaping, if you will.

A verse that came to mind is: Joshua 1:9 "This is My command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Now, I don't expect the Holy Spirit to be so prominent in everything I do. But then again, why not? I listened to Him by moving here and God is showing me His ever-loving favor. I sure I wouldn't mind :) Would you? I am becoming more and more excited to see what happens while here in Nashville.

So here is my encouragement to you: be sensitive to these "coincidences". There is more to them than it being a random happening. It can be someone as little as no traffic to your destination while being a tad behind schedule. A beautiful sunset on a bad day. A cashier giving you a coupon to save more money (all of which have happened while I've been here).  If you become sensitive to these, I promise you, the Holy Spirit will show you (and show you and show you...)! 

Tomorrow is my 25th birthday. 25 and so alive! :D

Charlie

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Abridged story: From then to Now

July 11th, 1988. Okay, I won’t start from birth, but I should give some history. Unknowingly, I was born into a broken home and adopted at seven days young. Growing up my adoptive parents, who I call mom and dad, always told me as long as I can remember I was adopted. I knew I was blessed to be in the family I grew up in. Fast forward to age 21, and I find my birth family via Facebook. Finding out I was the second of two to a mother that was barely 20 years old. Bless her amazing heart, she ran from home to home “hiding" from my father because she not only wasn’t going to have an abortion, but morally she couldn’t. Long story short; I have been hand picked by God. (More to come about this in later blogs…)

Fast forward a few years, I found myself buying a home for a relationship I was trying to save. Happily ever after, right? Best mistake I could have ever made! After being in the house for almost 2 years, through circumstances, I found myself: broken, searching for a church, wrapped in a snowball effect of sin, and burnt out.

Now this is where you may need a seat belt. I went to my adoptive mom, I call her; mom. I explained to her my hurt, my desire, and needs. I cried, she cried. I prayed, she prayed. The next morning, she sent me a video of a Church called, Iris Ministries. I probably watched that video umpteen times. If you care to know the video here it is:

With that 7 minute clip, it has catapulted me into the life I am currently living now. The hurt, frustration, and feeling of not belonging to a group of friends was answered. I made a decision right then and there it was time to, in a sense, grow up. I was moving to Nashville.

Now, my best friend and his wife live in Nashville, so I’m not that crazy. Long story short (I keep saying that..), after having my house on the market no longer than a week, it sold for $5,000 more than asking price. Wahoo! I am still seeking God to see what I should do with the proceeds from the home, and I’m sure it will be made clear when the time comes like everything else has.

June 14th, 2013. My departure date from Oregon. I packed my little Toyota Tacoma to the max with me and my dog, Bella, for Nashville. What a fun 2,400 mile trip that was! I was able to stay with extended family two nights and camp for two. I arrived on Tuesday, the 18th.

After adjusting to the humidity, city life, and couch sleeping, I made it to Iris on Sunday evening. This was an emotional experience. I had made it! I am listening to God’s voice! I am obeying! I have done something right! So exciting! Yet, this is just the beginning :D! Arriving here was such a feeling of accomplishment, but at the same time I have just started, which is an even more exciting feeling.

So, here I am, 3 weeks minus one day, in Nashville at a coffee shop like most “Nashvillans" do. I still don’t have a job fully secured, nor a place to call home. But what I do know is that God has called me to Nashville and specifically to Iris. I am listening and more importantly: I AM DOING. I don’t know what it fully entails, but I know in time it will be answered. My heart is to be able to help those in need, particularly with children in need/at risk. Whether that is locally or oversees, I don’t know yet. I just know I am open to what the Lord has for me.

As far as this blog, I will post as life goes on. I will honestly try to make it a weekly/biweekly thing. In my next post, I will share about the experiences that I have already encountered while being here. God has been moving in exponential ways already! Until next time…

John 10:27&28 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me."

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