1/26/15

My current battle is to keep the door open. 

God has opened one big door filled with many opportunities for me.
Which consists of going to college, moving back home, pursuing some other dreams of mine.

 However, it never occurred to me that Satan would try to close this door directly on my face.

I am constantly having to fight to keep it open. This is totally a bipolar battle.
Everyday looks different. Sometimes it's a spiritual gun fight... other days it's a thumb war.
And why does it surprise me that Satan would want to keep me from going through that door?
Stupid girl.
You should remember that he's out to get you.

At first I considered all this as maybe a sign that God was telling me I heard Him wrong. That I shouldn't leave Life Action and continue teaching the kids.

Which would be confusing, because he was so clear a few months ago that my time here is coming to a close.
One thing I will always remember my mother taught me is that God is not a God of confusion.
Therefore, I am putting on my spiritual armor and fighting for my future.
Thankfully I know what the ending of this battle looks like.
As I think about life after Life Action and what I would like to do,
there are some dreams I'd like to pursue.
I've also never shared with you what those are...

At a young age I learned my love for fashion. Going to thrift shops with my mom. Finding great things in unexpected places. Creating something new with something old.

When I was twelve my mom bought me my first sewing machine at Penny's.
It's a light blue little powerful machine. I've crafted some fun things with it.
Not soon after that I picked up a camera (just like dad) and learned a love for photography.
Later in life I learned a love for blogging.

Now it's time to put them altogether.
At least I'm going to try.
I didn't know that until the other day. My likes and interests aren't necessarily something that I knew how to
I was watching a youtube video of a fashion blogger i've followed for years.
She discussed her love for fashion and sewing. How making a fashion line she sewed on her own, as well as fashion blogging is what got her through college. She lives in New York and has certainly made a living off of doing what she loves.

Whilst watching it, I realized, I myself have a lot of potential as a seamstress.

(This is a shirt I sewed for my brother this Christmas)

I also love blogging and fashion. For a long time I have loved all these things.
So I have decided to pursue all of these loves of mine.
I want to go to school for business, and while i'm there I can fashion blog, travel a little bit, try sewing some new projects and see how it turns out for me.
All the things I love, and I'm going to pursue it.
Thanks,
Marina.

It Could Be Your Turn

Three years ago Life Action headquarters had some of us team members be interviewed about traveling on the road as a promo video. I knew that it maybe would never go anywhere and could be shelved kind of a situation. However, apparently the video's been on Vimeo for awhile now and I saw it for the first time the other day! It was really fun for me to watch. God's brought me on the journey of a life time and maybe it's your turn.

There are always new opportunities out there just sometimes we don't know what they may be.

Maybe you just graduated and aren't sure if you want to go back to school or if you should take a break. Or maybe you want to travel and see America. If you want to try something different, meet a lot of new people, and grow spiritually then you should considering joining a road team.
Just ask me about it, or go online to lifeaction.org/onemission to read more about. 

Also, here's the video...
enjoy watching me from three years ago.

Tucked In...

Tucked in my bed at my new host home with three blankets, a heater, and hot rice bag under my covers. Tennessee's a stickler in the winter. 34 Degree's may not seem much, but for this Arizona girl it's a struggle. When I left home the temperature was in the glorious 70's range. 

For now, I'm getting by.

It feels amazing being back with my good friends, teaching the cutest kids, and just soaking up the bittersweet feeling of my last semester in Life Action.

Not much else has been going on. However, I will say that I love this Memphis, Bartlett, Arlington, Collierville area. May sound crazy to some people but I have now had four families I enjoy being with here. That's a lot. I consider it a blessing.

Fun facts: I got a ukulele for Christmas from a friend of mine. So, I've been practicing and I so enjoy playing it! Maybe one day I'll post a video of my amateur abilities.

Leading into this new year 2015, we as a team were challenged to pray for a word of the year. So I personally prayed and asked that God would show me what my word is. I thought trust would maybe be my word... but I wasn't sure. I kept praying and asked for some confirmation one night. The next morning I pulled out my Jesus Calling app for a quick devotion before I started my long Sunday. The title of the message that day was "Trust Me" then I knew that my word was trust.

This year I am being stretched to trust God with a lot of new changes in my life. I'm leaving a ministry that changed my life and made some solid life long friends. Moving back home, and starting college in the fall. I'm sure there are going to be a lot more "Trust Me" moments with God and it's going to take a lot of faith for me. I don't know about you, but when change comes, I cringe. Big change that is. So here I go into the rest of this year... learning to trust God more than I have had to before. Just a little scary.
 Until next time,
Marina