Taking a leap of faith!

The past two years have been a challenging journey, to say the least. Christ is more vivid in my heart and mind than ever before. I have learned that grace is vast and plentiful through our Lord's love for us. Though I am far from deserving of any favor, Jesus longs for my heart anyway.

Many are aware of how challenging school is for me. You can imagine, perhaps some of you may know, how exhausting it can be when the surrounding system and culture you are forced to abide by does not acknowledge nor honor who you are. After 17 years, I have decided to take a leap of faith by honoring my need of restoration through allowing Christ's evident longing to mold and transform me inside and out.  College forces you to learn far beyond the textbooks; and for now, that is the journey I am starving for. 

Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV) 

No Confidence in the Flesh

^"7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

^"1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.^"

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<sup>This Spring of 2013 I was hoping to participate in the San Francisco Urban Program offered by Westmont College; where students engage in an enriching journey towards discovering both their spiritual and vocational gifts.
 
This program would be an incredible opportunity to increase my awareness of Christ's attitude through professional internships, urban studies courses, and community living. 

For Many reasons San Francisco will have to wait for this revolutionist. I do not see this door being locked, just closed for the time being. Lord willing, this opportunity will rise again! My desire to live and swell in the city of San Francisco has not dwindled; in fact, the flame has grown even more! If our Lord should bring us back together, may we be in His arms till then.</sup>
 

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<sup>For Now, I have accepted a job in NE Portland. A dear friend and mentor from my bible study, Jagg Night, or as I like to call us, "Jaggers" offered me a wonderful opportunity to work as a secretary for his CPA, LLC firm during this upcoming tax season. 

It is my first "office-life" experience. Working from 8:00 am - 5/6:00 pm, Mon.-Fri. is definitely a first for me. Today marks my second day atempting to live up the expectations of "adulthood", whatever that means. In many ways I feel as if I am playing office; like I did as a child. The funny thing is that I still feel like a kid. Does adulthood ever feel real? Because as of right now it sure feels surreal.</sup> 

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 ^{I ask for your prayers because faith can only grow in community, not isolation. Accountability helps me walk on firm ground; built with truth, love, and knowledge, which passes all understanding.
 
Philippians 2 (NIV) 
Imitating Christ’s Humility
"2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
 
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
 
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death
        even death on a cross!"}