on: dreams.

I have a generally insane experience with all dreams in the dictionary sense of the matter. When I sleep, my dreams I either can't remember, or are seriously twisted or exaggerated in one way or another, and are always extremely vivid. And for one reason or another I can almost always remember at least a piece of my dream, almost every morning.

My favorites have included the time that I had to pick up a friend in Russia, and I had to travel by dragon to get there. Once there, my friend and I went to an airport, which was actually a department store, and our ticket for our plane ride home was an ice cream and a dance. We had to dance to get on the plane. Or the time that I dreamed that Rob and I took a random trip to the beach, and all the memories from that dream were simply of us lying around in the warm sun.

My least favorites have always been just as vivid, or more so. Like the time that I dreamed that I was in charge of the Wake at UNM table, and I lost everything that was there, because I left it alone to go to class. The whole dream was kind of, orange tinted and windy and stormy and there was this looming fear of a tornado, the entire dream. Or just the other night when I had my scariest dream I can remember. I watched someone commit suicide inside their home. Watched them shoot themselves in the head and watched them crumple to the ground. So life like, and fear that was very, very real.

Why my brain is this overactive is a mystery to me. Most people can't go to their friends in the middle of the day and repeat an entire dream like this almost every day. But what I do know is that dreams, in every sense, are so important. God has spoken to His greatest victors through dreams over and over again. He constantly reinforces dreams in His word.

Also, God gives us the hopes and dreams we have for ourselves. People often have the misconception that to give everything up and follow Christ, we have to give up our hopes and dreams. Sometimes, that may be true, but in many cases God GAVE you those dreams, and He only wants you to follow them for His glory, because He has huge plans for you if you follow the desires He's given you.

I think it's important to dream. To know what your dreams are.

I dream about the day when I begin my work. After graduation, when I can start tangibly helping people all over the world because of my nerdy love for business and economics.

I dream about the day when I can sit down over coffee with my mom and talk about Christ's love and work in our every day life. I dream about the day when we can openly apologize to each other for all of the things that we've done wrong to each other over the years. I dream about the day when she accepts the things I spend my time doing and the people I spend my time with.

I dream about the day I get married. Like most girls, I love seeing other people's wedding videos and pictures and I dream about the day I float down the aisle in a white gown. I dream about the vows that will be said and the joy and magic of the day when the man I love and I promise to spend the rest of our lives together.

I dream about the days I will spend in other countries, in other continents, with other cultures of people. I dream about when I can go meet people and tell them about the love of Christ. I dream about the people's lives that I will influence, and the lives that will influence me. The people who I don't know yet who will come to be live changers in my future.

I dream about watching Jesus' Kingdom here on earth grow. I dream about the future when Copper Pointe is growing in Christ's name and this city is truly being revolutionized by the love of Heaven. I dream about what it will begin to look like when there are potentially tens of thousands of people in one body and one family of the Lord, all meeting in one building weekly to support and encourage one another. (And there will be coffee. I dream about that too.)

All this to say, I suppose, that I know that while day dreaming is considered a child's art, that I believe in my dreams and that I'm not afraid to follow what people would say are impossible dreams, because I know that God has given me those dreams and that nothing is impossible through Him. And that I know that those dreams will lead me to places I can't even dream of today.

my Hope is found.

meet my friend, Tony.

Invisible Children Presents: Tony.

on: encouragement.

Today was a great testament to how much influence we all have on each other.

I woke up this morning to 3 texts from one of my most responsible students. Immediately I knew something wasn't right. The texts explained that someone had made an INSANE claim that our pastor was at the launch of our On Site campus at Sandia High School, and was preaching about the "sinful nature of homosexuality." Yes, we launched an On Site campus on Friday. Yes, Dustin was there. Funny thing is, Dustin was not introduced as our pastor and he didn't say a word. He was just creepin in the back supporting his students as they catapulted a brand new ministry.

Their sponsor teacher had a meeting with the principal this afternoon about the claims. We've yet to hear what was discussed.

So, needless to say, morning started out with me feeling an extreme case of the Monday blues. After texting Shaylynn to stay strong, and that I'm praying for her team, I was feeling a little better. Together Shaylynn and I encouraged each other out of the immediate reaction of "AKEOIROIWEMALKEJOICUASRIJ" Encouragement number 1.

Next thing I knew, Dustin was IMing me on facebook asking how the other schools were doing, any main problems, and we talked about his trip to Kenya. He fleetingly mentioned the issue at hand and said "they're all problems that come with success, so that's good! keep me updated on everything, you're doing a great job!" Encouragement number 2.

Then I get in my car, running late to econ, as always, with a way less than empty gas tank, feeling a little bit stressed. Delaney texts me to make sure I'm okay, because she saw my tweet. She simply says "Remember Satan attacks the things that have the most potential to win people to Christ! So the fact that so much is going wrong ironically means that you're doing something right! So keep on." Encouragement number 3.

As I'm walking to the library, already feeling better and trusting that God's with us as we walk through this madness and those extreme lies, I stumble upon Phillipians 4:13 chalked on the ground in front of Mitchell Hall. Whoever chalked that there had no idea how much of an impact it would have on me, but it did. It just reminded me that Christ is everywhere and is completely in control. That it's Him walking with me through all of this, and I, as well as my amazing team of students, can handle anything we come across in Christ's name. Encouragement number 4.

Somewhere in here my dad offered to buy me a tank of gas, and a near stranger asked to come to church with me on Thursday. It's funny how the scariest days can turn into the days where you see God the most.


So between the kid who made the claim about Dustin and created this mess, Shaylynn, Dustin, Delaney, and the stranger who chalked up the sidewalk, there is quite a chain of influence. Two of these people I'll likely never meet, but they effected my day in huge ways. And as Delaney was in California, Dustin in an airplane flying over Arkansas somewhere, and Shaylynn in school dealing with this up close and personal, we all had quite an important exchange today.

I just think today was neat.

on: this.

Why would I ever need another blog?

Because my old blog has become a sort of diary that I never tell people about. Because I need a place to record my dreams, my studies, my ideas, and my fears.

So follow along, because I have this feeling like Christ is leading me through some of the most interesting, difficult and beautiful times of my life, right now. I will only update this blog when I have something worth your while.

I'm excited to begin the journey of writing with purpose. Of writing with intention and wisdom and dreams.