Tea of the Day: Sweet Mango (Black, Iced)
Song of the Day: How He Loves by David Crowder Band
It has been almost a month since my last post, but I am finally ready to give an update. I have pursued many different job possibilities for this next year, but God had a very different - though not completely unrelated - plan for my life right now. As a result, I am finally seeing the light at the end of a very long tunnel.
For the past month now, I have been helping plan and recruit for a new after-school elementary music program through the music store I have been teaching private lessons at for the last year. We are still deep in the recruiting process, and it has been a very trying and busy time, but we are praying that God will bless our endeavor. Ultimately, money raised from this program will go to support a fellow music teacher in her calling to travel to Romania for the '10-'11 school year to start a music program for orphans there.
God is faithful and we are diligently praying that He will make this program fruitful and successful so that it can continually contribute money to an account for musicians at Biola to go to Romania periodically and develop relationships with the many orphans there. I am so excited about what God is doing and feel so blessed to be even a small part of it. He provides for His children just what we need, just when we need it, and oh, how he loves us!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Blessings
Tea of the Day: Irish Breakfast (Black, Hot)
Song of the Day: Armistice (Album) by Mute Math
Last night God encouraged me through several people I interacted with throughout the evening, and I am so grateful.
I am beginning to get used to the idea of what my life may look like this fall. It is not at all what I expected, but when is it ever? Nothing is set in stone, yet, but the wheels are in motion, so to speak. Whatever happens, I know that God will provide. I also know that I have plenty more to learn, so I plan on continuing to pursue what I know is my calling. No matter what happens, I will seek to glorify God and praise His holy name.
Song of the Day: Armistice (Album) by Mute Math
Last night God encouraged me through several people I interacted with throughout the evening, and I am so grateful.
I am beginning to get used to the idea of what my life may look like this fall. It is not at all what I expected, but when is it ever? Nothing is set in stone, yet, but the wheels are in motion, so to speak. Whatever happens, I know that God will provide. I also know that I have plenty more to learn, so I plan on continuing to pursue what I know is my calling. No matter what happens, I will seek to glorify God and praise His holy name.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Six Golden Rules
Tea of the Day: Scottish Blend (Black, Hot)
Song of the Day: Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller
Today I typed the word "tea" into YouTube and I came across a lengthy British advertisement for how to properly prepare tea from the year 1941!! It is amazing!
Here is the link if you want to watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvYymrCn4g .
Some of it is very outdated (this is almost 70 years old!), but it is so fascinating. Here are some quotes from the video that I found very amusing:
"It's not everyone who can make a good cup of tea!"
"Remember, tea is not a manufactured article which can be made, bottled up, and sold at will. It must be prepared every time it is required." (Tell that to Lipton!!)
"Success or failure depends entirely on the attention you pay to the six golden rules."
And here are the six "golden rules" of tea making:
1. Always use a good quality tea.
2. Always use freshly drawn water. Stale water means stale tea!
3. Remember to warm the tea pot to prevent loss of temperature.
4. Measure the right quantity of tea for the amount of water in the pot.
5. The water must just reach boiling point, and must not be under- or over-boiled.
6. Let the tea infuse properly before serving. Brew tea for 3 to 5 minutes in a cup or ordinary tea pot, and 10 to 15 minutes in a large container.
Finally, "don't spoil a good cup of tea with bad preparation. Let every cup you make be a cup that cheers!" =)
Song of the Day: Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller
Today I typed the word "tea" into YouTube and I came across a lengthy British advertisement for how to properly prepare tea from the year 1941!! It is amazing!
Here is the link if you want to watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvYymrCn4g .
Some of it is very outdated (this is almost 70 years old!), but it is so fascinating. Here are some quotes from the video that I found very amusing:
"It's not everyone who can make a good cup of tea!"
"Remember, tea is not a manufactured article which can be made, bottled up, and sold at will. It must be prepared every time it is required." (Tell that to Lipton!!)
"Success or failure depends entirely on the attention you pay to the six golden rules."
And here are the six "golden rules" of tea making:
1. Always use a good quality tea.
2. Always use freshly drawn water. Stale water means stale tea!
3. Remember to warm the tea pot to prevent loss of temperature.
4. Measure the right quantity of tea for the amount of water in the pot.
5. The water must just reach boiling point, and must not be under- or over-boiled.
6. Let the tea infuse properly before serving. Brew tea for 3 to 5 minutes in a cup or ordinary tea pot, and 10 to 15 minutes in a large container.
Finally, "don't spoil a good cup of tea with bad preparation. Let every cup you make be a cup that cheers!" =)
Friday, August 14, 2009
Unexpected Pleasures
Tea of the Day: Island Fever (Green, Iced)
Song of the Day: Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald
There is something wonderful about unexpected pleasures... the pure joy of finding and experiencing something new and fun that was not planned. Today I went out with a dear friend in an area I had driven through many times, but never really explored. It was great fun! I came across (unintentionally, really!) three different tea places...
First, I found a casual Tea Cafe that served a lot of unique iced tea blends. I tried something called "sunburst" tea with iced apricot tea, orange juice, and raspberry flavor. It was delicious! I never thought of mixing tea with juice before, but now I have lots of ideas for new things to try!
Secondly, I noticed a sign for a British Grocer and just had to check it out to see if they had decent scones. After pining over several shelves of tea imported from the UK, I ended up purchasing an authentic Scottish blend of black tea from Edinburgh and a jar of "pure butter clotted cream biscuits", which the British woman at the counter told me to "savor every bite" of. She was right, they are delicious!
Thirdly, I stumbled into the "Tranquil Tea Lounge", which is a modern take on tea with an Asian flair. They had over 85 different loose leaf teas to choose from - all of which were on display in tiny labeled glass bottles for you to sample smell. We ended up eating lunch there and it was very tasty. I had a small side salad with "black tea vinaigrette", a half-turkey sandwich with sun-dried tomato pesto, and a large glass of "island fever" iced green tea. The tea was fantastic. Then, for dessert, I tried their white chocolate lavender scone, which was also delicious. What a treat for my taste buds!
I am realizing the importance of taking time to simply enjoy life and forget your troubles for an afternoon or so. I am so thankful that God has placed such good friends in my life to enjoy the journey with! It is so nice to just sit down and enjoy a cup or a pot of tea with a good friend and talk about life...
I was definitely inspired today, and I can't wait to have my next tea party!!!! =)
Song of the Day: Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald
There is something wonderful about unexpected pleasures... the pure joy of finding and experiencing something new and fun that was not planned. Today I went out with a dear friend in an area I had driven through many times, but never really explored. It was great fun! I came across (unintentionally, really!) three different tea places...
First, I found a casual Tea Cafe that served a lot of unique iced tea blends. I tried something called "sunburst" tea with iced apricot tea, orange juice, and raspberry flavor. It was delicious! I never thought of mixing tea with juice before, but now I have lots of ideas for new things to try!
Secondly, I noticed a sign for a British Grocer and just had to check it out to see if they had decent scones. After pining over several shelves of tea imported from the UK, I ended up purchasing an authentic Scottish blend of black tea from Edinburgh and a jar of "pure butter clotted cream biscuits", which the British woman at the counter told me to "savor every bite" of. She was right, they are delicious!
Thirdly, I stumbled into the "Tranquil Tea Lounge", which is a modern take on tea with an Asian flair. They had over 85 different loose leaf teas to choose from - all of which were on display in tiny labeled glass bottles for you to sample smell. We ended up eating lunch there and it was very tasty. I had a small side salad with "black tea vinaigrette", a half-turkey sandwich with sun-dried tomato pesto, and a large glass of "island fever" iced green tea. The tea was fantastic. Then, for dessert, I tried their white chocolate lavender scone, which was also delicious. What a treat for my taste buds!
I am realizing the importance of taking time to simply enjoy life and forget your troubles for an afternoon or so. I am so thankful that God has placed such good friends in my life to enjoy the journey with! It is so nice to just sit down and enjoy a cup or a pot of tea with a good friend and talk about life...
I was definitely inspired today, and I can't wait to have my next tea party!!!! =)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hope
Tea of the Day: Sweet Mango (Black, Iced)
Song of the Day: The Lucky Ones by Tim Myers
Today I am full of hope! Despite the fact that it is mid-August, there are still music teaching jobs opening up almost daily. Okay, so not all of them are exactly within driving distance of where I currently live, but still... it is comforting to know that they are there.
I have been through so many ups and downs this summer, regarding jobs and living situations and finances, that I now feel as though I am mentally prepared for anything that could possibly happen. I pretty much assumed that I would know my job situation by August, but obviously that is not the case. Hopefully, I will know by the end of the month, but God's plan - and timing - is much better than mine and I am willing to wait for it.
I typed the word "hope" into Bible Gateway and, in the NIV translation, the word shows up 174 times in Scripture. Many of the references are from the books of Job and Psalms. I am especially encouraged by this verse: "Show my Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God, m Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." ~ Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV).
Hope is even a biblical command!! "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ~ Romans 12:11-12 (NIV)
Last night I was reading about God's goodness in A.W. Tozer's "The Knowledge of the Holy", and he writes about how God is constant, unchanging, in His character. He is just as faithful and good today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow. "The goodness of God is the drive behind all the blessings He bestows upon us. God created us because He felt good in His heart and He redeemed us for the same reason." ~ Tozer
I am so grateful that I can put my hope in God, who is forever faithful and good! He was faithful yesterday, He is faithful today, and He will still be faithful tomorrow. What a comfort!
"When the sun comes out from the rain clouds, I know it's going to be better. Climb a ladder up to the top of the world, and do it together." ~ Tim Myers
Song of the Day: The Lucky Ones by Tim Myers
Today I am full of hope! Despite the fact that it is mid-August, there are still music teaching jobs opening up almost daily. Okay, so not all of them are exactly within driving distance of where I currently live, but still... it is comforting to know that they are there.
I have been through so many ups and downs this summer, regarding jobs and living situations and finances, that I now feel as though I am mentally prepared for anything that could possibly happen. I pretty much assumed that I would know my job situation by August, but obviously that is not the case. Hopefully, I will know by the end of the month, but God's plan - and timing - is much better than mine and I am willing to wait for it.
I typed the word "hope" into Bible Gateway and, in the NIV translation, the word shows up 174 times in Scripture. Many of the references are from the books of Job and Psalms. I am especially encouraged by this verse: "Show my Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God, m Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." ~ Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV).
Hope is even a biblical command!! "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ~ Romans 12:11-12 (NIV)
Last night I was reading about God's goodness in A.W. Tozer's "The Knowledge of the Holy", and he writes about how God is constant, unchanging, in His character. He is just as faithful and good today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow. "The goodness of God is the drive behind all the blessings He bestows upon us. God created us because He felt good in His heart and He redeemed us for the same reason." ~ Tozer
I am so grateful that I can put my hope in God, who is forever faithful and good! He was faithful yesterday, He is faithful today, and He will still be faithful tomorrow. What a comfort!
"When the sun comes out from the rain clouds, I know it's going to be better. Climb a ladder up to the top of the world, and do it together." ~ Tim Myers
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
College
Tea of the Day: Peppermint (Herbal, Hot)
Song of the Day: Blue Skies by Ella Fitzgerald
As I sit here at my desk with my freshly brewed cup of peppermint tea, I think about how I got to this point. How on earth did I end up living practically on my own, in a humble apartment in Southern California, more than 400 miles away from where I grew up?
My entire life, everyone was always telling me how important it is to get a college degree (and I am sure I am not the only one)... how it will open up a substantial amount opportunities, how there will be plenty of job options, how much better off I will be in life. Well, I graduated from Biola with a B.M. in Music Education eight months ago, and even finished my teaching credential two months ago. Do I have a full time job? No. Is there hope for a full time job in the near future? Hardly.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that I regret working incredibly hard for the last five years to get this degree, or that college degrees in general are not in any way valuable. I just find it ironic that here I am, five years and 165 units later, and I have resorted to looking for daycare jobs like I was doing during high school! (Not that there is anything wrong with daycare.) The funny part is that I, a California-credentialed and CPR-certified teacher, have not received a single response from any of my daycare applications!
I have a theory about all of this, though. Well, not so much a theory as a word of truth: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 (NIV)
One of my most fervent prayers is that God's will be done in my life, whatever that may be. So, if I have such trouble getting daycare jobs, that is not what I am supposed to be doing with my life. If I apply and interview for full time teaching positions, and do not get offered the job, then I am not meant to have it. Now, of course, there is a great deal of responsibility on my part to pursue after things. I can't just sit back in my comfortable chair and wait for God to toss a job into my lap. That would be foolish.
However, I do prayerfully consider every major decision that I make. And that makes all the difference. Even though things may not be working out exactly as I had imagined in my life right now, I take immense comfort in the fact that God is sovereign and His plan for my life is much better than anything I could possibly imagine for myself. So, I will be diligent with the time that I have been given and patiently wait for whatever it is that God has in store for me next.
It is a strange feeling to reach the end of five years of careful planning and to look out into the future without the faintest idea of what comes next. It is uniquely exciting at the same time. Whatever it is, I will make sure that I am ready for it. In the meantime, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:14 (NIV).
I am determined not to waste my days worrying about what will happen to me or how I am going to pay for next month's rent. God is faithful and He always provides for His children in even the most desperate and painful situations, so there can only be good things ahead!
"Blue days, all of them gone; nothing but blue skies from now on." ~ Ella Fitzgerald
Song of the Day: Blue Skies by Ella Fitzgerald
As I sit here at my desk with my freshly brewed cup of peppermint tea, I think about how I got to this point. How on earth did I end up living practically on my own, in a humble apartment in Southern California, more than 400 miles away from where I grew up?
My entire life, everyone was always telling me how important it is to get a college degree (and I am sure I am not the only one)... how it will open up a substantial amount opportunities, how there will be plenty of job options, how much better off I will be in life. Well, I graduated from Biola with a B.M. in Music Education eight months ago, and even finished my teaching credential two months ago. Do I have a full time job? No. Is there hope for a full time job in the near future? Hardly.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that I regret working incredibly hard for the last five years to get this degree, or that college degrees in general are not in any way valuable. I just find it ironic that here I am, five years and 165 units later, and I have resorted to looking for daycare jobs like I was doing during high school! (Not that there is anything wrong with daycare.) The funny part is that I, a California-credentialed and CPR-certified teacher, have not received a single response from any of my daycare applications!
I have a theory about all of this, though. Well, not so much a theory as a word of truth: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 (NIV)
One of my most fervent prayers is that God's will be done in my life, whatever that may be. So, if I have such trouble getting daycare jobs, that is not what I am supposed to be doing with my life. If I apply and interview for full time teaching positions, and do not get offered the job, then I am not meant to have it. Now, of course, there is a great deal of responsibility on my part to pursue after things. I can't just sit back in my comfortable chair and wait for God to toss a job into my lap. That would be foolish.
However, I do prayerfully consider every major decision that I make. And that makes all the difference. Even though things may not be working out exactly as I had imagined in my life right now, I take immense comfort in the fact that God is sovereign and His plan for my life is much better than anything I could possibly imagine for myself. So, I will be diligent with the time that I have been given and patiently wait for whatever it is that God has in store for me next.
It is a strange feeling to reach the end of five years of careful planning and to look out into the future without the faintest idea of what comes next. It is uniquely exciting at the same time. Whatever it is, I will make sure that I am ready for it. In the meantime, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:14 (NIV).
I am determined not to waste my days worrying about what will happen to me or how I am going to pay for next month's rent. God is faithful and He always provides for His children in even the most desperate and painful situations, so there can only be good things ahead!
"Blue days, all of them gone; nothing but blue skies from now on." ~ Ella Fitzgerald
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