Night of Worship

It's kind of funny how I live in Southern California, yet, on a day like today when it's 70 degrees outside, I think it's too hot. I've definitely been spoiled with our colder temperatures and rain recently. If there were ever a time that I would move out of the state of California, I'd most likely move to an area with a colder climate. I tend to get more things done when it's cold outside, odd, I know...

ANYWAYS, that's not what I wanted to talk about. Last night my great friend, Camille, invited me to a worship night at Vanguard College in Costa Mesa. She goes to school there and they have a church that they host worship nights in every week on Wednesday nights. Jeff and I have been looking for a church or place like that for the last two years that we've lived in the Orange County area, so I was pretty excited to hear about it. You don't realize how hard it is to find a home church until you are married and looking for one. With marriage comes differences, with differences comes compromise, with compromise comes longer periods of discovery. My point is that it's a lot harder to find a church that you and your spouse agree upon, fulfilling both your needs in your relationship with the Lord. 

Okay so I was totally excited about worship night! I LOVE worshiping the Lord. I'd rather have a worship service than a teaching service, I feel so much more connected with the Lord, and it's an amazing experience to be touched by his presence. (Of course, I firmly believe in reading the Bible as well)

Camille had told me that the worship night was a great experience, so I was expecting it to be good, but of course, everyone has their differences, so I also expected it to be not-so-good. Basically, I was going into this worship night with a neutral stance on what to expect. When we first got there it was packed with students and young adults. I was amazed! I would say maybe 150-200 young adults were there to worship the Lord. It was so encouraging to see all those people around my age putting time aside to give glory to God.

((Side note, I've been really discouraged lately with trying to find friends around my age who have the same goals and ideas of a relationship with the Lord. It's so hard to find friends out there that you can share your ideas of the Bible, the Lord, heaven, etc with.))

(I have never seen such well-manicured nails on a man's hands..haha)

Once we sat down, we waited for the service to begin, and Camille told me that every night it's a different band that plays the worship music. I was kind of nervous about that because you never know when a band will play well together or not. Even if they play good together will they have the anointing to bring the presence of the Lord into the atmosphere? You just never know.

The band started playing and their voices, music, and confidence created the perfect atmosphere to join in with excitement. I was SO impressed! They were amazing! I hadn't heard a band that played that well together in a long time. We worshiped for 2 hours straight! It was beautiful. Every song brought a different anointing and the band did a great job leading into every song. About 30 minutes before we ended, the lead singer stopped and took a moment to pray. He said that he 'felt the Lord wasn't done with us and that if there was anyone who was hurting, confused, or thinking that they weren't worthy, to stand up.' About 1/3 to 1/2 of the young adults stood up. Then the leader said for 'everyone else around them to stand up, lay a hand on those people, and start praying for them.' WOW. The room started filling with voices of prayer and sobbing. Everyone was being touched by the Lord, and people were being healed of their pain and hurt. It was such an awesome experience to watch unfold. 

At another point the leader asked us all to get on our knees and humble ourselves before the Lord. Every single person in that room knelt down and worshiped, prayed, and spoke in tongues. The presence of the Lord permeated the entire place and his glory was resonating everywhere. I didn't want to get up from my knees! I just wanted to kneel their until I couldn't kneel anymore! I love the presence of the Lord. It's so fascinating and beautiful. [Remember, in the Bible, Jesus knelt and prayed.]

The last 30 minutes we continued worshiping and then the lead singer closed in prayer. It was such a beautiful experience, and it was so encouraging! To see so many young people coming together to bring glory to God, and to be freed to worship in their own way was amazing. I was and still am so thankful to have worship night. I'm hooked! I plan on going every Wednesday night, and thanks to Vanguard College, I now have a midweek service that I know I will enjoy going too. 

I encourage anyone and everyone who is struggling to find a home church or a place of worship to keep looking! Ask around, continue praying for the Lord to bring it to you. You can even make your own home your place of worship. Set aside a time to shut all other technologies off, turn the lights off, and just play worship music. Let the Lord speak to your heart. He LOVES to be loved by you. 

Wife turned student...

So as I wrote in my last blog, I signed up to start school this year. I'm a 23 year old married lady who is starting school for the first time ever...a little late, huh? Oh well, my whole perspective on this is that it's better to start late then to never start at all. I feel like if I had started when I was younger, I wouldn't have enjoyed it or appreciated it as much as I do now.

Anyways, the funny thing about me is I tend to be intimated by a group of people, or people in authority positions. I have to remind myself that I am just as much in authority as they are, and that I'm not a teenager anymore. Since today was my first day of "crashing" a class that I want to take this year, I found myself feeling like I was back in high school. Walking the halls, nervous of what people are thinking, wondering if the teacher will like me, etc. I have to laugh at myself sometimes...today was definitely a time to do so.

As I was driving to school, I started hitting every single red light. Mind you, my school is only 4 miles down the road from where I live, you'd think I'd get there fairly quick; nope, it took me 15 minutes to get to school! As I'm driving, I start stressing, thinking the teacher will notice or be mad, and all the students will be looking at me when I walk in, etc. "Oh Emerald," I thought, " You're married, at least 4 years older than most of the students, AND you are paying to take this class, relax." I prayed after that and realized that I didn't need to worry about any of that. I am a grown woman, I need to step up to the plate and allow myself to feel like one.

Yeah...like that.

I don't know why or how I allow myself to feel smaller or inferior to so many people or situations, I guess I just don't like stepping on people's toes...I don't know. Everything ended going great! I was only 2 minutes late and my teacher was still handing out papers. I was able to walk in with a new found confidence and have a seat in the front row! I was so glad. The class went great, I already started learning a lot and my teacher is hilarious. I'm so glad I didn't allow myself to be intimidated by the whole situation. 

At the end of the class, I walked up to the teacher and told her my name, and that I'd like to be added to the class. She recognized my name immediately because I had e-mailed her last week asking if I could join. She said, "Yes.", gave me my "add number", and joked about me being related to "Jack Sparrow". I told her I was married to Jeff Sparrow, and that somewhere down his family tree he had an uncle Jack...she laughed.

(like this)

Anyways, I am SO excited about school! I am crashing and taking classes that I actually WANT to learn about, and I am going to be challenging myself. I am so glad that I decided to start school this year, and even though I'm older than most, I'm glad I'm doing it now. I feel like I'm accomplishing something awesome, and that's a GREAT feeling. My wonderful husband is my support, and I am so thankful that I get to go home to him after classes, he is amazing.

My point is, don't let yourself be discouraged! I've signed up for school 5 other times in my life and NEVER finished a single class, but I'm doing it now and I am on my way to a better future! Remind yourself that you are valuable and you don't have to feel intimated or small, you are created to accomplish GREAT things. Don't believe me? Read this scripture:

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Catching up

Hahaha, I LOVE this photo. One: I love kitties no matter how ridiculous they are. Two: This photo has a lot of truth to it. Three: I can totally relate to how kitty is feeling. Four: It adds some smiles to your day <3

Okay, so I've definitely not been writing as much as I should be. It seems like every time I have a chance to write, I'm ready for a nap. Anyways, quick update on things...Christmas was amazing! Hectic and chaotic but amazing none-the-less. Jeff (my husband) and I traveled to Sacramento, and then drove an hour into the mountains of Nevada City, Ca.

It was BEAUTIFUL!!!

It had the perfect amount of snow, the perfect amount of cold, the perfect amount of nature, and the perfect amount of peace. We were only able to spend three days there because we had a total of 4 Christmas's to attend this last year, but it was worth the flight and drive.

That is my awesome husband. He created a HUGE snowball...

Oh, I bought my husband a BRIGHT, blue, military grade laser for Christmas this year...He was asking for 3 months straight! I had too...he loves it. (Wives...no I don't understand the point to the laser, but I've realized that my husband is cute like my future-children will be, and if my future-children wanted a toy, I'm pretty sure I would get it for them...I don't know...it's too late now. Haha!)

Look at that scenery!! It snowed for the first two days we were there and on the last day it all started melting. Can you say "Miracle!"? We were able to drive home safe and sound AND enjoy a beautiful walk together. <3

So, between Christmas, a house warming party, and New Years, Jeff and I traveled approximately 1,400 miles in 8 days. OH MY GOODNESS, that is A LOT of traveling. Totally tiring, but totally worth! It was so fun this past year, we were able to have 4 Christmas's, see most of our family on both sides, play in the snow, visit the Capitol in Sacramento for the first time ever, check out a family friend's new house, and enjoy New Years! God has truly blessed us and we are so thankful!

That is a beautiful, extravagant cathedral right across the street from the Capitol. It was breathtaking to walk through.

~ I recently started going back to school (I've never finished a semester) and I'm really excited! I can't wait to learn about everything that I've been interested in for so many years and I am determined to actually stick with it this year. 

~ Jeff's Company has been developing the product's they want to sell and changing their awesome website (SO proud of my hubby!!). He is working so hard on defining what he wants his company to accomplish and the people that are standing along side him are the most sweet, hard working people we could have ever asked for. The Lord really blessed us with great people to surround our lives. Check out his website: www.geocommerce.com

~ We've also been enjoying trying new recipes I find from Pinterest. Oh, that Pinterest...I could spend hours on there. 

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Holiday season this past year, and I hope that you've been sticking with your New Year's resolutions! It's hard to stick with them but when you get inspired, keep trying!

By the way, Jeff and I celebrate our 1 year anniversary as a married couple on February 10th! We are traveling to Seattle in about 10 days and we will be there for 5 days. I'm so excited! We LOVE exploring, so this is going to be an awesome anniversary for us. I will be sure to post pictures and write about what we get to experience while we are there. 

Don't forget to "follow my blog" if you enjoy reading the random life a a couple of Sparrow's. <3

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