On candle passing...

i've decided to change the direction of this blog, details of which will be posted at a later date.

When I was a freshman at LMU, I joined one of the (then 7) service organizations on campus, Belles. It consists of 50 women dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community as well as being "the official hostesses" of the university. Each year, we have a candle passing ceremony in which the graduating senior Belles reflect on their experience in the organization and pass a lit candle on to the new class of Belles (Baby Belles). I remember sitting there in April 2007, listening to all the seniors talk (confused as to why they were so emotional) about how this org had helped them find themselves, created lasting friendships, and changed the direction they were going in their lives. Each senior had a unique experience of Belles, but they were similar in that they were in awe at how fast the time had passed since they had been Baby Belles. They each in their own way said: "Babies it's going to go by so fast, please cherish every moment you have with these women."


Now, it has come. My candle has been passed on to the new generation of Belles. Sometimes we may take for granted how blessed we are to be in a group of 50 phenomenal women, with a reputation of service, love, and solidarity that is upheld in each one of our hearts. When I first applied for Belles, I had NO IDEA how competitive it was. Now I look back and think "Wow, there are literally HUNDREDS of girls who could be sitting where I am right now... and they chose me." I was the one they wanted ... but now I think it's not that they wanted me, but maybe they knew that I needed them. I could sit here and ramble about the memories I've had in Belles, talk about how Belles has helped me to find myself, created lifelong friendships, and changed the direction I want to go in my life - but the blog would be so long, I doubt if anyone would read it.

I never thought this time would come so fast. Babies if you're reading this, please cherish every moment you have with these women. Sometimes you experience things that are indescribable, and you try your best to convey the feeling to others. Over the past few weeks, I've learned that I have 50+ women that share with me something we could NEVER explain.

God is IN me. (and you too)

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Today's New International Version)

16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Often times we think of God as being a separate being from us. We think of God walking with us, carrying us, lifting us up, or even being distant from us. When I read this scripture from 1 Corinthians, I instantly thought "wow! now that makes sense!" Because I am a dancer, and I use my body in a sacred manner almost every day this really registered with me. My body is a temple - that God dwells in. So God isn't apart from me. He is INSIDE of me. I am not together with God walking along side Him, holding His hand. But we are...

...together IN ME.

WE ARE TOGETHER IN ME - (you are God are together INSIDE of you.)

So if GOD and I are together in my body, shouldn't people see God reflected when they look at me?

If God is IN me, should I feel that He is far away? No.
If God is IN me, I am NEVER ALONE.

A lot of the times we can't FIND GOD, because we are seeking for something that we think is God. We are seeking something that is so distant and unattainable - but if we just look a little closer, we can see that He has been there in the midst THE ENTIRE TIME.

If we are distant from God, we are distant from ourselves. We must return to our true selves, which is who we are in Christ. Which is who God is in US.

OOOOOOOO ... that was deep. Praise GOD for that message!!

A Morning of Praise and Worship

I'm really excited about an upcoming event at my home church, Zoe Christian Fellowship of LA. This is the first time we're doing anything (to my knowledge) of this magnitude.

There is going to be singing, dancing, praising, worshipping, toe-tappin', hand-clappin'.. finger snappin' anything you can think of .. it's gonna be there.

The most special thing about this service is that it is going to be LED by the YOUTH and YOUNG ADULT ministries of our church, and it will feature some guests as well.

We are going to PACK OUT the sanctuary!!
Please show your support and come and have some good, spirit-filled fun with the ZCF FAMILY!

we are special.

It's amazing what this children's story has to say about God's love for us, and how important our self-image is.