HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!

Today is my brother's birthday. He is 27. TWENTY SEVEN! It seems like just yesterday I was 5 and he was 7 and we were running through the sprinklers in our front yard. I love him so much--more then he knows I'm sure. He has taught me more then he'll ever know and has been a true example to me of what it means to love people without judgement in such a genuine way. He's so much like my mom--in so many good ways.

He's one person I can't be mad at or stay mad at very long. He just has this way about him that makes it's so hard to be mad at. Trust me, growing up we had our share of fights, but as we've got older I have learned to appreciate so much about who he is and the wonderful brother he is to me. His hugs are so comforting and just talking to him can make any day better--his light hearted laughter is so refreshing.

Happy Birthday Tim! You are greatly loved by so many!

She's Home Now...

Jesus called this beautiful young woman, Katie Friesen, home with Him last Thursday, October 1st. She was a junior at Fresno Pacific where she was loved by MANY. Those who are grieving her loss do not grieve as those who have no hope--Katie had hope and her hope in Jesus was evident.

These song lyrics have been on my mind a lot: "Til He returns or call me home, here in the love of Christ I stand". Katie truly is standing and basking in the LOVE of Christ right now.

Christ called her home and often the journey one begins when a loved one dies is full of more questions then answers. Even with the many questions, there is rejoicing together in Christ knowing it's not "goodbye" but rather "until we meet again".

"Til He returns or calls me home, here in the love of Christ I stand"

Food for Thought

"We have not been promised extravagant housing, but we have been promised His presence. We often find ourselves in spaces that seem the last spot on earth we would have picked to insert ourselves, engaged in things that we never imagined ourselves having to do, but we can know this comfort: that wherever we are, we are in the very residence of God and this is sweeter and greater than anywhere without Him."

–David Crowder

Nina and Scott Shaver

It was a BEAUTIFUL day full of GREAT memories...

Prayer Request for G-ma

My grandma is in the hospital right now and has been there for the past four days. She went in because she had become extremely nauseated, stopped eating because food made her feel sick, would throw up any food she did eat and the consequently became quite dehydrated. The doctors have run ample amounts of test on her, yet there has yet to be any further understanding as to what is going on. All of us are praying that it is nothing major and that she'll be back at home soon.

She was diagnosed with cancer for the second time about 5 months ago and has gone through radiation treatment since then and that in itself has been a bit of a rough road for her. We're all pretty sure the cancer is being stubborn and still lingering in her body.

I talked to my grandpa the other day on the phone and asked if he needed anything and he replied with, "Nope, all I need is for grandma to come home..." The love they have for one another is indescribable.

So my family and I covet your prayers right now as we continue on this journey of wanting grandma to be back home and feeling much better. I'll surely keep you all posted.

"Me Too"

Thoughts For The Throne
September 14th

I had lunch this weekend with some good friends and walked away feeling quite refreshed. Sometimes when you share a meal with people there might be a hint of a deeper kind of conversation, but typically there is usually more eating and less talking. With the busyness of life we are sometimes driven by the clock and eat in a hurry, leaving limited time or space for “beyond the surface” kinds of conversations.

I sometimes find myself being a slave to the clock, moving quickly from one thing to the next. This weekend however, I sat with my two friends at lunch and I was determined to not watch the clock. Our conversation was filled with all sorts of topics and conversations, some focused on life’s bigger questions and others focused on the day to day struggles we all encounter. For me, the most refreshing part of the conversation was hearing two simple words that carry with them a magnificent healing power; the words "me too".

There's something special about hearing those words from someone. I think that we each carry within our broken souls a false assumption that we are unique in our hurts. We believe that we are singular in our struggle. Pioneers into a land of pain that no one has ever set foot in before. But that's just wrong...

We're not Neil Armstrongs of sin. In fact God’s Word (see below) says that we can't encounter any temptation or struggle that isn't common to others. But we forget this. Satan uses our shame to isolate us from the fellowship that God has designed us for. And sometimes, we need to hear someone who is walking a similar path as us say "me too".

There's something about those words that carries with it a power greater than even an answer to our problems can give. A power that builds a bridge between two people. A power that heals...

I hope as you continue in your time here at FPU, you examine where you’re at in life, look at the struggles you encounter, and remember you are not alone in those. It’s easy to push people away as it’s much more difficult to let people in. My prayer for you is that you engage in those deeper conversations with people you trust. But I’ve learned that the more honest we are with ourselves and with those around us, the more we allow room for God to work…to heal our souls…and remind us that we are His.

Until Next Week…

Becky

“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”. 1 Corinthians 10:13

They Are Married :)

More pictures to come... :)

I can't do it on my own...

This past week has been a whirlwind. Many MANY good things and a few overwhelming things. I started my grad classes two weeks ago and I've gotta be honest, I've been a bit overwhelmed by it all. I know once the routine of life settles in and I start back on the track of doing school stuff and setting aside time for reading and paper writing, things will even out. I am taking 6 units right now and continue to work full time in the job that I love. There were a few times last week where I felt that there was so much going on and so much to do, I felt somewhat paralyzed and didn't know where to begin. It's in those moments I am reminded that I MUST rely on strength from the Lord and not rely on my own doing.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to start my grad studies and have a job that I love and work with people I love. I really feel I am exactly where Jesus wants me and for those of you who have felt that before, you know there is nothing that compares to it.

Surely there will be more to come... :)

If you want a really good laugh...watch this....

The video is almost 3 minutes long, but if you just watch the first minute of it you can get the jest of it. And after about 20 seconds you'll probably be laughing really hard. Make sure you can hear the music when you play it. Enjoy :)

PTL

"But we have treasures in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Soon to be Mrs. Shaver... :)

My really good friend Nina is getting married in less than two weeks! Last night all of us ladies in the wedding party went out to dinner to celebrate! This wedding is one I'm REALLY looking forward to for many, many reasons. Can't wait to celebrate with Nina and Scott and all their friends and family!!

So much good stuff going on...!

Kinds of People I REALLY Appreciate

Those who ask how you're doing and truly care. You know they care just by the way they ask.

Those who listen. And I mean really listen.

Those who have stood the test of time with you and endured many of life's great joys and difficulties.

Those who do the right thing even when it's really really hard.

Those people I can be really honest with and know they will love me just the same.

Those who speak truth to me in great love.

Those who ask me hard questions, yet do so in such a caring way.

Those who challenge me to grow and most often don't even know they are doing it.

To these kind of people and to the ones that God has put in my life... thank you.

It's been tooooo long!!!

Blogger.com and the FPU wireless network were not working together for some time now and it's been SUPER frustrating! The problem has been fixed now, so I will be back to blogging! I have a lot to write and bring people up to speed on, so be ready!

PTL I can blog again!

Quick Update

--I'm in the process of writing a paper for my online class right now. I haven't wrote a paper in APA format in almost 4 years. It has made me head hurt at times.

--I just registered for my grad classes this fall. My classes will include: Group Counseling, The Church and God's Mission, Aging and the Elderly, and Counseling Sexual Addictions. Some of those are weekend intensive classes so those won't all be on a weekly bases...PTL. I'm excited and a tad nervous.

--I've counted that I have attended 7 weddings so far this year and will attend 6 more before the year is over.

--I love spin class. I've determined one reason I love it so much is because it's a great workout and I can peddle out the stress of the day and the more stressful of a day I had the more intense the work out. It's great!

--I went to a new hair stylist and I LOVE her. Shout out to Jess for the reference and Lisa you go to her too! Such a small world. Her name is Aimee and she is fab.

--I'm at Panera right now and it reminds me of how much I miss Lisa.

--Dani and Mallorie always make me laugh. I'm glad Mal is back and they will both be back on campus soon!

--Eric is running the Disneyland half marathon (for the 3rd time) in September and I think he's crazy.

--Derek just moved for the 28th time in his life and I think he's crazy. Okay, 28 might be a bit of an exaggeration...but not too far off :)

--Jen has a new job and I couldn't be happier for her! Now we just need to find her a husband...right? haha....

--August is a crazy busy month, but lots of good things are going on.

--I still love diet pepsi. A lot.

In Christ Alone

We sang this song, "In Christ Alone" today in church and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I bolded the parts that stuck out to me. What sticks out to YOU? Such a good song...

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Two Good Quotes I Heard Recently...

"You can't lean on a shovel and pray for a hole".

"Mission and morality often go hand in hand. When one loses sight of their mission, they can often lose sight of their morality".

.

Here come the June brides...

For 3 out of the 4 weekends in June I was at a wedding. All these ladies were BEAUTIFUL brides...

Random Randomness and Things I've Been Learning

1. I like posting blogs every now and then entitled "Thing I've Been Learning" in large part because I like to look back on them down the road and see if I truly learned these things or simply forgot them :)

2. I'm taking an online class right now and I had work due by midnight last night and I started it at 10:30pm... Reminds me all too well of my undergrad days.

3. I am in my friend Nina's wedding in September and the bridesmaid dress I am wearing on the big day is a tad tight right now. I'm doing weight watchers to drop 7-10 pounds in the next 6 weeks. I refuse to pay to have the dress altered to fit better when dropping a few pounds will do the trick.

4. I can't connect to blogger.com from my computer at home...at least not very often! I'm not sure why, but it's SUPER annoying. Yes, SUPER annoying.

5. I've been going to spin class at the gym twice a week for the past few weeks and I'm loving it. I'm hoping to still find time for it even as work starts up and life gets busy. It's a great workout and really pushes me.

6. TWO engagements happened yesterday. One being my friend's Brandon and Steph. Brandon is actually my ex-boyfriend, which is super funny because we dated for about 3-4 months when we were in college. And as many of you know, 3-4 months in a Christian college setting is like 2-3 years in the real world, but that is one relationship that could not have ended any better. Him and Steph are SO great for one another. When I got this text, it made me smile. And no, I'm not just saying that :)

The other engagement was one of my former RAs, Lauren. Her and her boyfriend (also named Loren, I know what are the odds, right?) have been dating for a while. Actually, come to think of it, I remember when they first started dating. Awwwwww. They are a really fun couple.

7. I really need a haircut. Next Friday I have an appointment and it could not come soon enough.

8. I think too much. No really, I do.

9. On that note, I've been thinking a lot lately about the sense of "entitlement" I have about certain things. Why do I feel entitled to certain things and should I? That's a whole other post for a whole other day...

10. I feel like the overarching question Jesus keeps asking me lately is, "Becky, do you trust me? Do you really trust me?"

I should be in bed. I'm a workin' woman again and the days are only going to get longer as the nights get shorter!

I like my church...

Sometimes church videos can be cheesy (some can be VERY cheesy), but maybe it's just me, but I often think the videos my church makes are pretty dang funny.

SE BBQ Promo from The Well Community Church on Vimeo.