Shine

I don't have any new pictures for this post, so if you normally just look at those, see ya next week.

I got a job!!! Praise Jesus, Bankers Life and Casualty hired me as a recruiter (so Redding people, if you need a job, hit me up). I started Friday, and I'm still learning the ropes and the computer system that we use. I wasn't going to be able to do 2nd year if I didn't get a job, and I've been looking since I got here in September. So in the first 5 months I got zero job offers and was wondering what's up. Then the DAY that applications opened, I got this job offer, and the next day I got another offer as well. What. A. Coincidence (wink wink, nudge nudge, Jesus).

This past week in school we learned about the glory of God, and how we all carry it throughout the day, even if we don't feel like we're doing anything spectacular. We also learned about the power of joy, and laughed at a ton of lies together. When you laugh at lies, they don't have any power over you because you are putting your hope in the truth instead. Let's try one together: "I'm too busy to experience God's presence". BAHAHAHAHA He's inside of every person He's in relationship with, and we can experience Him with every movement, every thought turned towards Him.

Festival of Cultures was last night, and it was awesome! It's a night to celebrate all the amazing people from all the amazing countries in the world who have come to Bethel. They dressed up, made delicious food to pass out, and entertained in various other ways, including some pretty cool dances.

Earlier I mentioned that my sister gave me the word "power" for this year, and then I also got the word "shine" during a worship set. I have 2 things to say about the second word. First of all, we should give thanks for our God-given talents and not think less of them. When I was younger I was very prideful and so as I matured I think I started to associate being good at something with being prideful. But excellence is not pride. Daniel and Joseph are two Biblical examples of men being promoted because of excellence. They used it for God's glory. Proverbs 22:29 says "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men."

Also, God is all about that shine. He loves the radiance of beauty that His creation emits. Paul says that through purity we are to shine like stars in the midst of a crooked generation (Phil. 2:15). Nobody lights a candle and then puts it under a bowl (Matthew 5:15). God lit you up when you entered into relationship with Him, and he intends to show you off. That doesn't mean being in the spotlight all the time, but people will want the gospel if they notice a difference in you. I'll end with this quote from Kris Vallotton - "True humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."

Here's an old pic, but it shines

Wow wow wow this song! Mount Zion by Jonathan Hesler. He and his wife led worship at Bethel this past week. 

Countdown to Korea: 34 days! I still need $650 by this Tuesday to make the deadline. If you would like to donate, click here :)