It’s not even a month into 2012, and I have an update for you! Back in December, I decided to start this year off by taking little steps that I felt the Lord leading me to. Recently, I have been considering many different fields of work for a possible career, but I could never really pinpoint what I wanted to do. I wanted this year to be different.

Last month I had a conversation with a friend about life and the passions that keep the fire going inside of us. I told her that I was considering a few career options that I could see working out, one of them being nursing. She began to tell me that she thought I should start out by getting a CNA(Certified Nursing Assistant) certification to explore the medical field. That got my mind rolling. I started to look up CNA certification courses nearby. The only thing that I couldn’t figure out is how I would pay to get certified. The next week I was taking the bus to work and talking to my regular bus driver about looking into CNA classes. I take this bus every day. There was a guy that got on at the local hospital. He was not familiar, just another face in a sea of faces. I continued my conversation with the driver when the young man interrupted.

“I’m actually taking classes at Edmonds Community right now to become a CNA,” he chimed. “I’m in a grant program, and they even give you a free laptop.”

He quickly scribbled down the information about the grant so that I could look it up later. Before I knew it, he was off the bus. I had never seen him before, and I’ve never seen him since. I don’t know if you believe in miracles and angels, but that sure made a believer out of me.

Since then, life has been a blur. Christmas has happened. The new year has been ushered in. In the midst of the holidays, I researched and applied for the grant. It is an amazing opportunity. Through the grant, tuition and books are paid for. Also, scrubs, shoes, stethoscope … you name it, it’s paid for. Oh, yeah! The laptop? Free. The internet to do homework? done. I was hoping and praying that this would be the Lord’s plan for my life. It seems as though doors were opening left and right. 

A few days after the new year, I went to an orientation to get tested and interviewed for the grant. Everything went very well. At the risk of not sounding very humble, they absolutely loved me. The lovely lady that conducted the interview said that I was the perfect candidate and would be a great asset to the program. Could this be it, Lord? It’s all sounding really quite nice. I was told that I would receive a call in a few weeks if I was accepted into the program.

The next few weeks were gut wrenching. This could be my chance to chase a career, and to have a job that provided for my future family. I was trying my very best to be patient. Two weeks past, and I had not heard anything. Last week, there was a sizable snow storm that hit the Seattle area. Most of the area schools closed for the entire week. That means that I was out of a job for the week. I was left to my own thoughts. I’m not good enough. I am not doing anything with my life. They were only getting worse. I decided on Thursday to change my attitude, and be productive. It worked.

On Friday afternoon I was sitting in my living room while hanging out with my brother and sister. My phone rang! It was the founder! He asked if I was still interested in the grant. Of course I was! He then went on to tell me that over 125 had applied, and I was one of 45 that were accepted! WOW! Is God not awesome or what?!

This is just a small step for me this year. I hope to make many more small steps toward living intentionally. I start school in two weeks, and I can’t be more excited.


Do you have a word for this year?
How are you doing so far?

http://facebook.com/OneWord365
#OneWord365 Community on Twitter

A few years ago, I joined an online community of people that had a wonderful concept. Their brilliant idea was to do away with their resolution rubbish, and focus on one word. Focus on one word for an entire year. I really liked this thought process. I’ve come to eagerly expect it’s arrival at the end of the year with great anticipation. Along about December, I started to ruminate on the word I would most like to be attentive to in the following year. I thought it over for some time, and then came to a decision.

This past year our little online community (… which has escaped it’s little boundaries this last year; more like family, if I do say so.) went through a very sad loss of a very dear friend. Sara was a huge role model and mentor to many of us. She had a knack for making all of us feel valued and special. I will treasure her for the rest of my life. She showed me how life is really meant to be lived; unashamed before God. In every moment, I want to choose joy. I want to be intentional in everything. As I was thinking about my word, I wanted to move in the same direction as the year preceding. Action was an excellent choice so, I wanted to continue in that way. Without realizing it, I chose one of Sara’s life goals. It has me all warm and fuzzy inside.

It is my goal to be intentional in every moment. I know that I will not succeed every time, but I want to try my very best. I want to be intentional in my relationships with the people around me. Being intentional by seeking the Lord for what He wants with my life. I want the people in my life to know that they are special and that God as a grand adventure and plan for their life. The reigns are there for the taking.

With all that said, my word for this year is: Intentional

This is my One Word 2011 wrap-up post.

I have been putting off my year end post because I felt that not a lot has really happened with my One Word. After some thinking, I have come to realize that it really has given me a lens to see things through this last year. I noticed that I have paid attention more to my actions, and how they affect me and others.

I haven’t really made and huge life changing decisions this year, but it has been a good year. I have been able to grow in ministry at my church (Calvary Fellowship), and create solid relationships with the people there. They have become some of my closest friends and family. I love them dearly.

For me personally, it’s been a hard year of maturing into the godly man I am suppose need to be. All of the trials have been worth it though. I know that God will never leave me. His grace is sufficient for me. I will never run out of grace. I know that as long as I abide in Him, nothing can stop us. 

I am looking forward to this next year. I know God has amazing things in store for me and my family. I will be updating this periodically throughout the year with updates. I hope it will be more than twice this next year!

Check back here tomorrow for my One Word 2012 update!

Helpful links: http://oneword365.com

                     http://gritandglory.com

I know I shouldn’t have done it.
Instant gratification led to instant regret.
I wish I could erase all the mistakes
and go back to the moment we met.

Waking up with a clean start,
I would make every attempt to win your heart.
It might not be an easy endeavor,
but you’re more than worth the effort.

I should have given you a chance before;
it was obvious we were a perfect fit.
I was blinded by what I thought I wanted;
a life I didn’t need nor would get.

I’ve recently noticed all the beauty you possess.
It’s not like it wasn’t there in the past;
it’s just that I had my mind on something less.

But it’s too late for these words.
They won’t change how I made you feel.
I’m sorry to have caused you pain,
and I hope that by now you’ve healed.

by Victor Terrien

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I’m joining the many others and linking up for Five Minute Friday over at The Gypsy Mama.

Won’t you link up with us?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Joy…

It has been a joy to be in community the last few days as we have drawn together to be with each other as Sara gets to go to see her Daddy!

No words come to me when try and describe what has transpired the last couple days. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to get to know Gitz. Her attitude is one that I constantly admire. I want to always choose joy. She is incredibly gifted with the ability to encourage and uplift when she herself was in pain. She truly is an artist in life. in every aspect.

If you want to find out more about Sara and her life, please visit: http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com

If you would like to find more posts honoring Sara, please visit: http://thegypsymama.com/2011/09/five-minute-friday-joy

I feel the most loved when …when I’m spending time with the people that I love most. That can be a simple as grabbing some warm liquid love at a local coffee shop or a afternoon of board games and a deck of cards.

When people let me know that I am valued by them, it speaks volumes to my soul.

done.

My heart was doing lots of processing, I guess. There are not a lot of words this week.

Hey guys!

I just wanted to preface this month long break with some explanation as to how it’s going to go. It’s pretty plain and simple. I’m looking to take time to put some focus into my life, and to put the right priorities first. The past couple of months I’ve put some thought into where I want this year to go. I want my life to be a life of action, and have it define my life. I do not want my life to be a house of cards that are built up by the many words that I say every day. It’s what I want my life to be all about. To first of all, love God and secondly, love people. How do you do that? Yes, partly by the words that you speak, but also by the actions in which you live your life. I want that. In this time away, I hope to grow in my relationship with the Lord, and to make some important decisions in my life. I guess what it all comes down to is that I just want to live my life. I am hoping that this break will help me to do that.

If you need to reach me during the break or just want to talk, I will still be available on my cell phone and email. My contact information is in my info on my facebook profile if you so feel the need to use it. All notifications for facebook and twitter will be turned off and I will not be logging in until February 18th, 2011. I also will be taking internet off of my phone! Super excited about that!

Take care and see you all next month!

Nathan

I’m a man on a mission to love God and love people.