Dreams January 31, 2008

Jan31- 3:08pm

I was running in my head today over all the things I hope to do in my life.
I decided to make a list.
I feel like I have made one before…but with time I think our hearts, passions, hopes and desires change.
Mine have changed but these are some of the ideas that stir up my soul, make my heart beat faster and make my mind spark with creative color.

1. Write a song that makes someone’s heart burn with emotion.
2. Paint something that makes someone feel something stronger than they knew they could feel.
3. Fall in love with and marry the amazing man I know God has for me.
4. Be known as a woman of great [[blind]] faith.
5. Have a family.
6. Go where ever God calls me, Whenever He calls me.
7. Invest in kids.
8. Go to at least 10 different countries.
9. Walk barefoot in Greece.
10. Put together some kind of art event.
11. Go on a road trip across the country.
12. Be considered someone of great intrigue and spontaniety
13. Have an impact on someone’s life.
14. Inspire and evoke creativity in every generation.
15. Love unfailingly. Uncondiontionally.
16. Encourage and listen to everyone who needs anyone.
17. Fly in a helicopter.
18. Learn Spanish well enough to hold my own.
19. See my father, sister and brother saved.
20. Always notice the little things.
21. Take advantage of every small moment I have.
22. Change the world.

Nothing is impossible.

Keep the focus January 31, 2008

Jan31-8:31am

This was a good verse to read straight away in the morning.
Have a good day guys.
I love you.

Phillipians 3-12-14
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

15-16So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

17-19Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

20-21But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

Answered e-mail January 30, 2008

jan30-10am

I am like the most impatient person ever. God is working on it though, actually.
Anyways, a group i was interested in finally e-mailed me back..I had been hoping hoping hoping and today , here it is.
Yay for God answering prayers. This is what she wrote…

Dear Shannon,

Thank you so much for your inquiry requesting more information about Danita’s Children and our volunteer program. We are currently in the process of reorganizing our volunteer and missions ministry to make it possible for more people to become involved, and to provide greater opportunities for people like you with a heart for orphans to participate in this ministry. We are still in the planning and early implementation stages, but as we get more organized I will provide you with a list of dates and opportunities as they become available. We are hoping to have our new program in place within the next couple of months.

I hope you will stay connected with us. Please keep in touch and feel free to contact us with any questions. Keep watching the website as we will be keeping everyone updated there.

Thank you again for your heart and passion for working with orphans!

For the children,
Sheree Beresford
Stateside Director
Danita’s Children

I also got a phone call from someone who has connections with this group and we are suppose to talk today…
Cross your fingers. I think this may be the one.

Oh lovely day January 30, 2008

Jan30-8:27 AM

First–I had a really weird dream last night that woke me up and wouldn’t let me fall back asleep.

Second– I saw the cutest bathroom at a market I went to yesterday. I probably looked really strange coming back out, grabbing my camera and going back in…but…I am willing to risk it. I want to to do this somewhere in my house one day….

Third, we watched american idol last night and someone was in the lounge so we watched it in my friend Jen’s room and she had bad reception so we had to be creative…

Fourth, I found a really good verse this morning…

Song of solomon
6-8 Hang my locket around your neck,
wear my ring on your finger.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
torrents of rain can’t put it out.
Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold

Irritation.Frustration.and kansas. January 29, 2008

Ya know those days where you are just so easily annoyed?
Today was one of those.
I felt people making things more difficult then they needed to be and people poking me just to watch me squirm.
It wasn’t a bad day…Just frustrating…
then my sister texted me and told me that she thinks I am her open door she had been praying for.
I felt like God hit me in the face and was like “Shannon, stop being lame.”
so I shook it off, ate some thai food and then IMed Kansas….

me: Hey boy

davidxcarroll: hey!
I was actually envying you today…………. I was looking at those sunny pictures

me:
the ones at the beach?

3:45 PM davidxcarroll: yeah
I want to be barefoot outside in a tshirt so bad
so so bad

3:46 PM me:
Come visit!

davidxcarroll: what’s the temperature there now?
3:47 PM I’m thinking about going there so much… just for a few days………. I need to

me:
its like 70
in a few weeks it will be warmer
You could come down before easter and then take me home with you!!!
haha

3:48 PM davidxcarroll: that’d be really cool

me: it would be fun.

davidxcarroll: ok serious, when could we do that
what are the days

me: whenever you want.

3:50 PM davidxcarroll: but I mean, when do you leave?
like, when would I bring you back?

me: soometime in the week before easter
is when I am planning on going home.
it would be a fun roadtrip

davidxcarroll: yeah I really want to do it
*****
Here is why you should roadtrip it to Cali….

Even if it doesnt happen, the thought made my day better.
Yay for friends and spontaneous plans.

Revelations in balconys January 26, 2008

Jan26- 2:13pm

The church was opened up from 8-12 last night.
I wanted to go because I knew whatever I needed, God was going to tell me while I was there. I am definetly a front row worshipper but when it comes to getting alone and intimate before God I like to be by myself. So I trudged up all the stairs into the third balcony and found a spot on the steps in the back. I sat on the stairs and just let me mind settle.
There is a song by Hillsong called Hosanna and there is one line that just makes me shiver…
“Break my heart for what breaks yours.”
I sat up there and I sang that line over and over and over and over. Begging God to give me answers, clarity and vision.
I started praying and I said, “God, there are so many children…”
And he said “Shannon…they are all MY children…”
and I said, “I know but what am I suppose to do?”
At that, it was like God just touched my heart….He reminded me that I had grown up without a father around. That, though I had a dad, he wasnt the father every young girl needs. He wasnt my daddy. He told me that, yes, I knew God was my father but those little kids didnt. I started weeping. I don’t mean a few tears fell, I mean..I was shaking because I was crying so hard. And then I heard God say to me, “Shannon. You have to go and tell them I am their daddy. If you dont, they will never know. They have to know they have a father.”
My heart just broke.
I sat in that third balcony and I just sobbed for like two hours thinking about these hurting little kids with no Dad to hold them. With no father to tell them they are beautiful. And they don’t know about the Father that will never leave them and always love them. After that I begged God to let me go. I begged him to let me go soon. I asked him to send me soon so that I could help them. so that I could tell them. so that I could love them. I wept and begged for God to not make me wait because the longer I wait, the less know. I dont have a choice anymore, guys, the call is there. The call is evident. I have to go. It isn’t even an option anymore.

….this is really starting to consume my heart….

Haiti January 25, 2008

Jan25- 1:45pm

A door opened today.
I was sitting in my room last night praying that God would just open a door so I knew what to do.
This morning, I mentioned to a guy I work with that I really want to go work with orphans and he said,
“Oh with Karris?” and I said
“Who the heck is that?”
and he said, “Oh, her family runs an oprhanage in Haiti. I’ll hook you up, here, you should look at their website.” ((http://www.danitaschildren.org/))
So he popped up his yahoo account and got me the address.
I took that as a door opening…
Go watch this video if you can…it’s short..and amazing.
I have been watching it and listening to the song all day.
No exaggeration.

http://danitaschildren.org/index.php?module=view&video=your_beautiful.flv

ps.jan25- answered prayers

All God’s children January 25, 2008

Jan24- 4:30pm

I was searching orphanage stuff again today and I was like, “God what should I search for?” and I felt Him tell me “Shannon, they are all my children.” So I typed in “God’s children.”
This is part of what I found….

“God’s voice is never silent concerning the orphan. If you listen you can hear Him whispering in the darkness at night. He continues to shout from the roof tops at daybreak. He fervently lays before the world His concern for the orphan. So never overlook small beginnings, never dismiss the vision God plants in your heart concerning a needy child. I believe that you are not reading my words by accident, but rather by divine appointment. Thank you so much for listening to my heart. I am praying that I have encouraged you to ask, “What can I do?” For somewhere in the world today an orphan needs your help… they wait in the fields of the fatherless hoping for a second chance.”

I just got chills.
I really feel called to go work with orphans.
I feel as if I am done here…I feel like whatever it is that I came here to do, I have done. I feel like God is ready for me to move on to my next step. But what if I am wrong? I don’t want to accidentally leave too early. I dont want to accidentally make the wrong choice.
But I really think I have done what I was called here to do….and that God has place all these new things in my heart for a reason…
I need the door to open all the way so I can step through…
I am not good with the swinging thing or sneaking in through the crack.
But those kids…
It is estimated that 143 million of the world’s children are orphaned or homeless…143 MILLION. Think about that for a second…
I watched a video about a girl who went to romania to work with orphans and it brought me to tears. I just cry when I think about it.
I have to go do something….

Ideas January 24, 2008

When they come from God
are so so good.
And this one is going to be killer.
Vague enough?

ps. Jan24-Hot showers on cold mornings

Motivation Poured out January 23, 2008

Jan23-10:33AM

So last night after I got off of work, I had this overwhelming amount of motivation.
Naturally, I wanted to take advantage of it.
I am going to show you my evening and little bit of how my mind runs…
First, I did a painting…

After my painting was done, I decided I wanted to go for a run. So I put on my pink running shoes and ran to starbucks to pick up my tips. While I was running I was listening to my ipod which fueled my desire to learn how to play guitar. So when I got home I sat on the ground, in my running clothes, and played guitar until I couldnt feel my fingertips…

After that, I put my guitar away and decided to make a little creative corner in my room….

While I was in the middle of putting holes in our wall, my roommate came in. Upon her entry I insisted we take a picture in our always-streaky-no-matter-how-much-I-clean-it mirror…

Then as the picture I took, I remembered I have a self timer…so we stood by our door..and this is what happened…

I know I know…
You’re wishing you were in LA right now, aren’t you?
I wish you were too.

ps.Jan23- Being inspired to paint