Encouragement is of the essence

This weekend (Thursday-Sunday) I went back home to Orlando (I know, I know, very soon after I moved) to get the rest of my things (desk, and other miscellaneous stuff that I was bound to forget, ((sorry for all the parentheses))), attend the Kris Wise- Sarah Robles wedding, have a meeting as part of my candidacy process with the Staff Parish Relations Committee at St. Luke's, and say goodbye again to my friends.

It is actually a relief to have everything I need for my room and apartment, so getting the things I left behind was good!

The wedding was unlike any other I had ever been to, I am very pleased with how it went and it seemed like the families really understood how a wedding should go. It was very special, and Christ was definitely at the center of the ceremony, and that was a blessing. It was fun, delicious (Asian food and two cakes!), and just very special. I was thankful to attend and witness such a beautiful night for them and be their with my friends.

Seeing friends and saying goodbye again was definitely bittersweet, but I was thankful for it. I am very excited to keep in touch and still be a part of my friends' lives and having them be a part of mine. That is important to me. It is a way I want to grow, to be able to let these friendships live out, even if distance and not spending time in person with them makes it difficult. I got to celebrate another friend leaving Florida, Shannon McDonald, to go teach in Korea.  We had Asian food and played "Just Dance", and it was a fun night to send her off and say goodbye to her! It is very encouraging to see others in my circle of friends leave to fulfill God's call and feel in the same boat as them. I have friends from Orlando going to Ireland, Korea and seminary like me, and I look to them and what they are doing for encouragement and as examples of following Jesus.

I realize now, again, how important the encouragement and support I receive, both authoritative from my local church, specifically, and relationally from my friends and family, is to me. It feeds me and builds me up. Without it, I don't think I could be strong enough to do anything I am doing. It is key to my journey, and I do believe that God intends it to be that way. It is easy to think that because I need that so much, that it's a sign of weakness, but it just isn't.

Just a thought...

People specialize in over thinking things and not going for what they really desire for their lives, and thinking that they can't fulfill the things that burn inside of them. We tell ourselves all the time that things are not possible. I don't know about most people, but I am not settling for what I think is merely possible, I want to go for the things that are in my heart. I want to strive for what God has for me, and not feel limited to what I think is possible or impossible.

Prove it

For really the first extended period of time, I am really starting to be a tad worried about my academic career entering into classes at Candler. There is so much out there for me to learn and study, and experience, but I'm going to have to work  harder than I ever to obtain all of it. I have never considered myself as an excellent student. I'm going to need to convince myself that I am able to do what it takes to obtain what is there for me to understand, learn, and experience during my time here at Candler. I believe God will carry me, but I don't really understand yet how I am going to be able to do it all. I want that to be a process of doing what it takes academically, not only spiritually, to excel  academically here.

A little insecurity, but I am ready to prove it to myself.

This is Big

I have finally moved to Atlanta into my apartment with Harrison, so the past few days have been really hectic. Between unpacking, shopping for apartment stuff, setting up our utilities, more shopping, setting up my room, and getting use to being here, it's all been quite overwhelming and quite different for me. I have lived in Orlando my whole life, so this is peculiar and unusual.

My last few weeks in Orlando were great. Hanging out with my friends meant just a little bit more. I definitely used my friends as fuel to enthusiastically move on to my move from their support and love for me. They helped me pack, threw me a party, and really showed me how much they care for me. I am starting to miss my friends back home already, but I'm allowed to do that. It's part of moving, and part of affirming people's role in my life and importance to me. I look forward to keeping in touch and having long-distance friendships with the friends that God desires that from. I am eager to see how God works through long-distance. Most of my friendships, I know, will take a lot of effort, not only an endorsement from God.


So far I have seen my area of town, Decatur, pretty well for being here for only 3 days. We went to a pub called Twain's our first night and another, Brick Store last night. Both are in downtown Decatur and brew their own beer. I shopped underground at a Target, and saw Atlanta's Ikea while we picked up a few things there.


Mostly, I am excited to be following through with what I know God has set me out to do. I just know He has extraordinary plans for what I'm going to learn, see, do, and who I'm going to become. I'm taking this one day at a time, trying to see my next best right step, and to be faithful. Not as easy as it sounds, but worth it among all the change. Change is my focus word in scripture right now. I want to see how God has worked among it, caused it, used it.

Philippians 1:6

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."


Being here, doing this, is allowing God to continue His work in me. That is very grand, but I need to focus on my daily pursuit. I'm not content with having a vision of what God will do, but what He is and wants to do RIGHT NOW.

Here are my contacts that I would love for you to use:

 Skype: jaladd119

Address:

3131 N Druid Hills Rd Apt #3109
Decatur, GA 30033

That's Wild

I am reading "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge, and, so far, it has been really good for me. It teaches me that the things I feel and know in my heart, as a man, are specific for me, yet true for every man. I embody characteristics of my Maker in my heart as I am created "in his image". That does a lot for my confidence and realization that my need for adventure, among other things that God has put into my heart, need not be suppressed, and when they are, the desires in my heart, the characteristics of my heart that God has given me, are not used to give me life. This book also teaches me that when I am wounded, hurt in some way, shape, or form, I should not feel surprised and unequipped, because this is a world at war, that is our battle. Soldiers are not surprised when they are attacked because they are at war, and that is the same reality we live in. Men have an important role inside of this reality, and those who use that innate desire to fight and live in adventure are in the minority nowadays.

I recently got to spend Easter with my whole family, even my sisters and their husbands included. It was SO great to have everyone together again. Kate also got to come, and that was really great. We are dating now for about a month, and we have both spent some time with our families together. I am just really thankful for everything that God is doing in our relationship, it is such a blessing. I am actually going to spend time with her and her family tonight, so YAY.

Here is a picture of me, Kate, then Devon and Drew from top to bottom, playing Bocce Ball in the yard. It's taken from the attic office above the garage at my folks' house (thanks Mom!)

Leaving here in 3 months is also starting to sink in. CFL Wesley's year ended, people are telling me they'll miss me, I am looking at places in Atlanta, and I am dealing with it in the only way I know--to rely on God and to be a little sad. I am truly, really excited, but not about leaving, about looking forward to this next step in my life.

God continues to humble me, build confidence in me, provide for me, and to prepare me for what is to come. He is also not in Atlanta, He is here with me guiding me there while molding me every day.

I look forward to...

Today, I had my first one-on-one meeting with my District Superintendent Wayne Wiatt, with whom I will be working very closely with in the Candidacy process and along my journey of pursuing what God wants for me. I really liked two of the questions he asked me:

-What is your biggest anticipation?

-What is your biggest anxiety, fear, or worry?


These seam very simple, and they are. But they did require some deep, instant reflection on my part. That's why I liked them. They were thought provoking, but one of those "tell me what comes to your mind" sort of queries.

To the first question, I answered that God would show me unsearchable things. My journey will be one of experience, not knowledge or works. My biggest excitement is to see what God does. It is so awe-striking that God would use me to advance His kingdom, so that is why I am so excited about that. I am going to get to see what God does, and be used.

The second one was tougher to answer. It was very personal. My biggest worry and fear is that I will fail and miss out what God has for me. God will not miss his opportunities if I falter, but He wants to use me so that I can be changed and be a part of what He does. He desires that for everyone. My fear is that I will make mistakes that hinder my experience and my relationship with Him. I am not afraid of failure, but missing out on what God has for me.

In other news, I also got to spend the afternoon with my dad and brother, and that was so great. We went to a Braves game, and it was nice to spend time with them, it feels like it had been so long.

I meant to take pictures, whoops. Maybe next time.

Funk-y

This week is "Spring Break" (I put that in quotations because since I am not in school, I am not very much affected by it, I just don't have Wesley stuff this week) and I am finding myself in quite the lull. I say that because I find myself being lazy and apathetic, which is a dangerous place to be. I want this to change, because I do not want this attitude to spread towards other parts of my life. I want to nip this in the bud, but still seek to be rejuvenated. I think that that is important every now and again. I will not be too busy this week, just going to work, which is good.

I have applied for the Sherman Scholarship at Candler, and sent in my FASFA, so I am also eagerly awaiting those to be looked at and decisions to be made by Emory. I have a meeting with the District Superintendent, Wayne Wiatt, on Tuesday, then I will be going to a baseball game with my dad after that. I am really excited for Tuesday! For now though, I need to work my way outta this funk.