Dissapearence February 28, 2008

feb28.12:55pm

I have been sick for 5 days now.
I am finally okay enough to get out of bed and go to work.
I don’t have much of a voice and still sound like one of those smokers on TV that has a hole in their throat…but I am alive.
So I cant complain.
In the light of having to make some decisions, being sick probably followed my boggled head.
I feel really convicted to stay here longer…
I know, surprise!
I have to talk to some people…
as of now, my plane leaves two weeks from today one way to portland. Its frustrating not being sure of what to do.
And even more frustrating when you thought you were sure.
I am okay with admitting I was wrong.
I am not proud. Or embarrassed.
But I just want to be sure I am making the right choice.
I want to be where God wants me.
And ya know that little voice in the back of your head that you sometimes ignore until the last moment?
It keeps asking me, “are you sure?”
SO.. If you think about it, please say a prayer.

Bowling! February 22, 2008

So I went bowling with some friends last night.
I LOVE bowling.
but I am HORRIBLE at it.
My friend Nick and my friend Chad on the other hand kicked me butt.
They both got like 4 strikes and Chad got three in a row.
I would have done awesome if we played a second game…I was just warming up…

I forgot to take pictures really…but here are the few i did take.
Yay for fun nights and me sucking at bowling.

cameras February 20, 2008

Feb 20. 10:45 AM

Ya know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words?
I found these and they make my heart smile.

ps. I forgot about my thank yous….

January
23- Toasty feet
24- Understanding silence
25- To do lists
26- Mexican markets
27- being romanced by God
28- nail polish
29- nicknames
30- opening (spiritual) doors
31- chivalry

February
1- Foaming soap
2- hearing God’s voice
3- roadtrips
4- freshly mowed lawns
5- twirly chairs
6- hugs
7- deja vu
8- calculators
9- “coincedence”
10- orange and pink sunsets
11- erasors
12- second chances
13- talents
14- surprise packages
15- my mom
16- My green tea, melon, strawberry tea at Starbucks
17- Holy moments that draw you to tears
18- Pictures that make me giggle
19- My co-workers at Starbucks
20- Spinning until your dizzy and falling in the grass

Beauty February 19, 2008

02.19.08 8:55 AM

Songs of songs 6:10
“Has anyone ever seen anything like this—
dawn-fresh, moon-lovely, sun-radiant,
ravishing as the night sky with its galaxies of stars?”

11-12 One day I went strolling through the orchard,
looking for signs of spring,
Looking for buds about to burst into flower,
anticipating readiness, ripeness.
Before I knew it my heart was raptured,
carried away by lofty thoughts!
**
I think this is so pretty.
Spring is so beautiful. When the trees change to blossoms and the world becomes colorful.
Personally, Autumn and winter are my favorite but I think, for some reason, you can’t help but notice, when the world brings new life and color into your day to day rountine. To have your heart raptured… It’s just beautiful.

Pastor’s School February 15, 2008

Feb15. 4:15 pm

Okay so I know you are all dying to know how Pastor’s school went. That was the name of the conference.
First of all it was amazing. The auditorium of this place seats over 9000 people. And the entire place was packed every single night. It was quite a sight to see. Everyone seemed very genuine. Anyways…so the whole trip started with a 6 hour drive to Phoenix.
We left at 7 AM…

I am one of those people that totally zonks out in car trips if I am romotely sleepy, so needless to say, after this picture I was alseep for the duration of the ride. Once we got to Phoenix we made our way to our hotel which happened to be down the road from a strip club..I don’t mean to be judgemental but I def. shared a bed with my friend Mindy because she brought her own sheets…The room was quite the experieince… Our bed looked like it was from a colorful cartoon

We were lucky enough to have a no smoking sign on our door….

As well as on the ASHTRAY in our room…((haha))

We also had very beautiful curtains, stains we could not identify and lights that worked halfway….

Don’t be fooled though, the three days were not in vain. We had some amazing experieinces and went to some really good classes.
It was in the 80’s the whole time and the sun was so warm and beautiful.
Here are some fun photos I took.

This picture was after we had gotten no sleep for a day or so and Thriller was on the Ipod and Mindy and I were howling out the windows at passer byers…maybe you had to be there?

Then of course, like usual, I had to try and be artistic since I have secret dreams of being an aspiring photographer with absoultey no idea what I am doing….Those ended up being these….

The coolest part about this church is that they have this big mountain on their property. They call it prayer mountain and once you get up all the way, it is quite the sight. Below it is what they have built and called the prayer pavillion. A place that is open 24 hrs a day and totally dedicated to prayer and fasting. It is beautiful..

The last service we went to we sang this song where the words go
“I lft up my hands
there yours not mine
to do what you will.
I’m ready
I’m ready
I’m ready
Do what you will.”
And we all walked up to the prayer pavillion and everyone prayed and worshipped. it was very moving.
After that, we piled into my friend Jennifer’s car and prepared to make the 6 hours drive back at 11 pm.
Amongst exciting events such as almost getting hit by a semi and having to use a5$ minimum with my debit card at the mini mart….
we pulled off to get gas at a place called Desert Center. I know I know, what were we thinking?
We pulled in and the guy was sleeping and we stopped in front of the gas and I was pretty sure we had just entered into a bad scary movie and were going to get murdered….

Pretty much…that completes our trip. We got home around 3 in the morning and the whole Dream Center was beyong sleep deprived…
we did make a list of the best things said on the trip…

#1 -Jennifer- “I am losing my synthetic hair, why?”
No joke. she had extensions…one morning I woke up to Cousin It drying on my suitcase…

#2- Shannon- “Mindy look how cute these trees look in this picture I took….”
Mindy- “Shannon, I think those trees are towers. we are not in the evergreen state..”

#3- Mindy, Michael, Diane and I were standing outside our lower level hotel room being noisy I guess….
Police officer/Security man- “You are all going to need to go inside the room.”
Diane- ::Looks at Michael and then back to the officer:: “Is he allowed in our room?”
Mindy- ::whispers:: “Diane this is not the dream center”
Michael- ::With his australian accent very loud:: “Nope folks…This is the REAL WORLD.
Shannon- ::smiles at the officer too big and opens the door wider::

Maybe you had to be there for those…but they were moments we laughed about for along time.
So..
One thing is for sure, I am so blessed. I have had so many oppurtunities that I can truly only say “Only God” about. There is no other explanation for any of it. In the past year I have been to more places and done more things for God than I have in my entire life. That is crazy to think about. But it is nice to think about also. I love that when you ask God, He answers.
So that was my trip to arizona.
God showed up
and we had a lot of fun.

Hope you enjoyed!

Get back up. February 15, 2008

Feb.14. 10pm

I bought my plane ticket home today.
((I am so excited))

A lot of people, I know, are skeptical about why I am leaving.
A lot of people think I am going simply because I miss home.
A lot of talk has been going around, but the truth is, God is really moving.

The last three days I was in Arizona at a conference and it was amazing.
Services that bring you to tears. Thousands and thousands of people under one roof just..worshipping God.
No agenda. No show. No production.
Just worship.
I am excited about the oppurtunities ahead of me.
I am excited about the new passions God has stirred up in me since I have been in LA.
There was this mountain we climed, called prayer mountain.
It is big.
And I only had flip flops and it was not an easy climb.
I got about 3/4 of the way and sat down.
The girl I was with looked at me and said
“Get back up. Dont sit down, you have to keep your heatbeat up.”
I looked at her and said “I am ok with going this far.”
As soon as I said it, it was like someone shoved me down the hill.
I heared the words in my head and I immediately got up and climbed the rest of the mountain.
I do not ever want to become a stale Christian.
I do not ever want to miss what God has for me. I do not ever want to just be “OKAY” with where I am at.
God has a plan bigger than where we are at and I think sometimes we just say, “No I am okay with going this far.”
and I can just picture Him begging us…clenching His hands, fighting for us saying “No, don’t sit down. I will give you the strength to continue. Its worth it, I promise. I have more than this for you. Get back up.”
From the mountain you can see everything. I am marveled at God’s masterpiece that we see so little of.
I am ready to go all of the way.
I am ready to go home because I have been praying for my church. For my friends. For portland.
I am ready because I know God is going to move in my family.
I am excited because I know without a doubt that God is going to show up. And that He already is.

Its true, I am so happy to be with my family again.
It will be amazing to spend time with my beautiful friends.
And it will be nice to be in a town I appreciate so much more
but the truth is…
none of that even compares to the way my heart beats faster thinking about His plan.
Thinking about what He is going to do.
Thinking about how He is going to work.
None of that compares to the desire God has placed in my heart to make a difference.

I come home in about a month.
Filled with new passion.
New desire.
New vision.
New strength.
and
hands that are READY and wanting to reach out, grab on, and hold tight.

See you all soon.

ps. Happy Valentines day <3

Roadtrip! February 10, 2008

Off to Arizona until wednesday for a big conference.
8 hour drive.
80* weather
swimming pools
a tan
and knowing God is going to show up

sounds like a great way to spend four days.

Love you guys.

P.S. February 9, 2008

If there is one thing I am really really going to miss about this place its our late night icecream/milkshake/frozen yogurt runs with my friend Chad. It is neccesary that these don’t happen until after 11pm.
The first few pictures are me being retarded killing time til he picked us up, but the rest are from our evening.
Someone is going to have to pick up on this in Vancouver when I come home cause late night runs, are a must.

Dont judge me…

The devil is a liar. February 9, 2008

02.09. 3:26pm

The last two days I spent a lot of time thinking about a conversation I had with my boss about me leaving.
Now that I am more calm, I can write about it.
I sat down in her office expecting her to ask why I was going, encourage me to do what God was calling me to do, and send me on my way.
Instead I sat in the little chair in her office and felt my spirit get attacked for about an hour.
It was not her intention, I am sure, to leave me feeling discouraged but when I left that office all I wanted was to sit in my room and cry.
Luckily, I am blessed to be surrounded by a ton of people, both here in LA and back home, that are incredibly encouraging.
I knew I needed to take what she said, take any truth out of it, pray about it and get rid of the rest.
Always easier said than done.
I was just so shocked. I had never had someone come so direct against my heart, my vision, my love for God or my feelings.
Generally I do a pretty good job at defending myself but I just sat there. Stunned.

After thinking about it for a couple days, I wondered, “Why do I care what she thinks?”
As a leader, I respect her opinion and know she is wiser than I am.
But also as a leader, I think she approached me in a completely inappropriate way.
I know I have grown. I know God has worked in my heart. And I know I have changed.
I know He is going to do amazing things through me and I know He already has.
I know that He is going to use me in Portland and He is going to use my gifts.
I know He is going to take me and impact lives for His glory.
I know He is going to continue growing me, molding me, changing me.
I know that He is capable of far more than I could ever dream up or imagine.
I know He is always speaking to me and I am always fighting the chaos to hear it.
I know that if he sends me somewhere for only one person, than it is worth it.
I know that with Him working through me, I can change the world.
I know His opinion of me is the only one that matters
and I know to Him I am his precious, lovely daughter that He is passionately in love with.
And no matter what anyone says to me…
or thinks of me…
or sees me as…
those things wont change.
And I am confident that this is only the beginning.

This is what I needed to hear February 8, 2008

Romans 8:31-What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.