NATE ON A MISSION

A year of living intentionally ...

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:12:31 -0800

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

One Word | 365 days

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:17:00 -0800

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

One Word 2011: Action

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:18:00 -0800

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

Sorry

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:13:16 -0800

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

“The years go by like stones under rushing water We only...

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:57:00 -0800

“The years go by like stones under rushing water
We only know when it’s gone

Why don’t we dance anymore
I’m not ok with that”

- NEEDTOBREATHE

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the...

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:49:00 -0800

“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

Five Minute Friday: #ChooseJoy

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:22:00 -0700

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.

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

Inspiration. [Progress report on One Word 2011] Ben Davis is the...

Sun, 01 May 2011 17:44:00 -0700

Inspiration. [Progress report on One Word 2011]

Ben Davis is the founder of the Do Life Foundation. He started his own journey in January of 2009 at 358 pounds. I saw that he was recently down to 227. He’s working on his last 20 pounds or so that he wants to lose to get to his goal weight. He has been an inspiration to many people and to me personally.

—

I started out this year seeking to find what I needed to focus on this year, and what the Lord had in store for me. I think that it is ever changing and that is part of the journey that we are all on. I have taken this year to focus on the word action. I have thought a lot about that word. I do not believe however that I have taken a lot of action. There have been a lot of things going on in my life that have caused me to question everything that I am and everything that I am doing. I do no solely want to be a man. I want to be a man of integrity that lives his life in reckless abandon for the Lord.

How do I get there? One decision at a time.

I’m here telling you that I’m ready to take that step forward. no more ~~passivity~~. laziness.

I’m here telling you that I’m being brutally honest. I am not the man I need to be.

OneWord2011.com

Twitter Hashtag: #OneWord2011

5 Minute Friday ... on Monday

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:43:26 -0700

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.

Social Media Fast | One Word 2011

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 01:58:19 -0800

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.

un-edited, stripped down, raw … here is … My Heart...

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:18:00 -0800

un-edited, stripped down, raw … here is …

My Heart Cries | Five Minutes with Lisa-Jo

this place fills me with lots of emotion. It fills my nostrils with a sense of belonging. I sit here and converse with my friend for many years over tacos. It’s been two years, but it seems as though time has stood still. We talk about life, about passion, about our country that we so passionately love. Every time I come back to this country my heart leaps for joy, when all others would do anything to get out of this country. Across from this local taqueria, there are cars bustling in and out of a hotel attached to a strip club. My heart cries for His people.

One Word To Rule Them All ...

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:05:00 -0800

It has been said that actions speak louder than words.

I am a firm believer in that.

I began a tradition last year of joining a group of people revolutionizing the idea of resolutions for the new year. Instead of writing a whole list of goals for the new year, one word is picked to live out for the whole year. It is neat to be able to see the word run in themes through your life that year.

I’ve spent the past month or so putting some time and thought into where I wanted to put my focus for next year. The whole process has been a wonderful thing. Circumstances in my life this last month have continuously confirmed that this has been the right choice.

My word choice for this next year:

action.

I am ready for that little word to challenge me this year. The excitement for the next year is killing me. It’s palpable. I can feel it in the air. Can you feel it too? It’s not too late to join the One Word challenge. I am looking forward to walking this journey with you as I learn more about the actions I take and how they affect my life. I hope to blog along the way and let you know how I’m doing with my word.

Are you up for it? Do you have a word for the this next year?

Tell me about it!

hashtag on twitter: #OneWord2011

http://facebook.com/oneword2011

http://www.oneword2011.com

The Man In The Mirror

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 11:43:00 -0800

As I look back in the mirror and remember 2010, I have mixed emotions. On one hand, it has been an excellent year, but on the other it’s been a big internal struggle with life. I had a few firsts that I am so excited that I got to be a part of. For the first time this year I got to meet a handful of people that I met online. Even in this day and age, for some people that’s a crazy thought. Not for me. I LOVED it. Guys, seriously, it was honestly one of the best things that happened to me this year. I first got to meet the person that pulled me into this social media life, Alece. Thanks to her, I was able to meet close to 30 people this year that I had never seen in real life before. It has been a beautiful thing. Within the first week of 2011, I will add close to 10 more people to that list. hooray! In February I was able to take a trip to Mexico City to visit a friend there, and soak up everything that I could in 10 days. It was everything that I could have imagined. God is definitely giving me a heart for His people.

Last but certainly not least, I held the same job all year. It may seem like a little thing, but no small feat for this guy.

It’s been a crazy year, but God is using it to grow me. I’m continuing to make my faith and relationship my own. I can see that slowly but surely I am maturing into the young man that I need to be. YAY! Go God!

Blessings to all of you as you head into the new year!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

The First Noël | Bing Crosby — Bing. In our family, he has...

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:22:00 -0800

The First Noël | Bing Crosby

—

Bing.

In our family, he has always had a special place in our Christmas traditions. He graces our presence as we come together for the tree decorating, sipping hot chocolate, and spending quality time together.

Listen in as he ushers us into the holiday season.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Have any family traditions at Christmas? Favorite songs?

Free Fallin’ | John Mayer You know those songs that just...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:37:00 -0700

Free Fallin’ | John Mayer

You know those songs that just make you feel good?

Yeah, this song does that for me.

For some reason, it makes me happy.

John Mayer rocks.

What songs do that for you? Who is your go to artist?

Lost

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:51:08 -0700

My dear internet friend, Mandy Thompson put out a challenge this weekend to create an 80 word post about one word: LOST. I decided to take her up on the challenge! I’m relatively new to the whole blogging world and want to get my feet wet. So, here we go!

LOST

When I think of the word, lost, it makes me scared. I immediately think of the future. The future is suppose to be bright and bubbly right? I feel scared to grow up and face the real world. Job, career, family, kids, wife, making a difference, loving God, and loving people. It all makes me feel so lost, and so not in control. Can I live up to my own high expectations? Is it normal at my age to be constantly worried about it?

Done.

Family. I love them to death. This last weekend we took the...

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:52:00 -0700

Family. I love them to death.

This last weekend we took the family out to Whidbey Island, and hiked the bluff on Ebey’s Landing, and Perego’s Lagoon. It’s one of our family’s most favorite hikes. It’s our go to spot for rest and relaxation. It’s one of the places on earth where I feel super close to God. It was an amazing Sunday. We were all getting along, and simply sharing in our lives together. I’m so glad that I have my brother and sister. They make my life infinitely better!

Do you have a place where you feel close to God? Share it with me?

I think a little bit of heaven touched earth today. For those of...

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:43:00 -0700

I think a little bit of heaven touched earth today. For those of you that don’t know, I met up with some wonderful people that I met on twitter over the past year or so. We met up down in Seattle at Pike Place Market for lunch. What a gorgeous day to do this by the way! I was picture perfect as you can see. I tried to do a good job of capturing it for you guys!

I have to say that the twitterverse continues to amaze me to no end. There was no awkwardness at all. none. This sense of true community cannot get any better. This is how the body of Christ works. I cannot wait to meet more of my friends this way. There is definitely a long list for sure. I think this is something that this generation is just starting to figure out.

Thanks guys for this amazing Saturday. You rock. ‘nuff said.

Have you experienced this type of community? Thoughts?

I’d love to hear them.

People On A Mission: Thrive Africa

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:43:00 -0700

People that have a mission, and that are actively pursuing it are some of the most amazing people. I love them. Alece Ronzino is one of them. At the young age of 19, she started what is now known as Thrive Africa. It has become a gateway for change in South Africa.

To put Thrive’s mission statement in their own words, here it is

Thrive Africa’s vision is to disciple Believers, equip leaders, and strengthen the Church in Southern Africa.

That is a BOLD statement right there. Let me tell you right now, they do a darn good job of doing just that. From what I have seen Thrive Africa is an outstanding organization. I’m proud to feature them on my blog today.

There are several ways that they simply carry out their vision in everyday life in South Africa. They teach aids prevention classes to the local area high schools. They have seen a dramatic changes in the students both in and out of school. This program is taught entirely by their national staff. What an awesome thing. In addition, they also teach after-school discipleship classes to the kids. Taking them through the next step in their faith, and making it real life. So cool.

It is heard that the church in Africa is a mile wide and an inch thick. That very well, may be true, but Thrive is here to change that! Ninety percent of pastors in Africa have no formal training. They work to reach out and invest in the pastors to teach them effective ways of reaching out to their churches.

How freaking awesome is that?!

That’s not even all of it. I’m just highlighting the best parts! They also lead mission trips year round! They have one year interns in addition to the staff that they have on site. The interns are also learning as they serve the country of South Africa. There are interns that also come in the summer for two months and help lead out the missions teams that come in and much, much more!

I am so blown away at how God is using Thrive Africa to further His Kingdom. I know that He will continue to use Thrive to mightily change South Africa. I have already seen it.

There are so many ways that you can impact South Africa from where you are sitting right now. I bet you didn’t know that did you? Thrive has recently opened an online store to help support the ongoing mission. You get wickedly cool stuff like free trade coffee, and you directly support an outstanding organization. How cool is that? Learn more how YOU can make an impact in South Africa!

The truth of it is that Thrive Africa needs you to continue to do the work that needs to be done to change South Africa. They are boldly asking for 80,000 dollars in new support as of yesterday (quite literally). That is a big request. We know that God can do the impossible! You can be a part of this amazing opportunity!

Be part of this change. DO SOMETHING!

Impact South Africa Initiative - www.ImpactSouthAfrica.com

Thrive Africa Store - www.ThriveAfricaStore.com

Thrive’s website - www.ThriveAfrica.org

This is some Thrive Africa Swag that I got from the online store! Want some of your own TA SWAG? Get yours here!

Oh, where does that kind of love come from They say that it...

Tue, 25 May 2010 01:09:00 -0700

Oh, where does that kind of love come from
They say that it runs in His blood
Oh, where can I find that kind of love
They say that it runs in His blood

Social media seriously continues to baffle me to no end. I honestly can’t get enough of it. I really think that I will have life long friends that come out of this crazy thing called Twitter. What am I even saying?! Six months ago I thought Twitter was a joke. I’m not even sure where I’m going with this blog post. I just have so much love that has been poured out this past week in front of me, I’m not so sure what do to with it. I really can’t believe what an amazing picture of the body of Christ I have gotten from them. People in my life laugh at me when I talk about my friends on Twitter that for the most part, I’ve never met. I guess I just want to say that I’m so happy that you are all in my life. I hope that I am blessed enough to meet all of you some day. There is only one place where that kind of love comes from!