Life with Jesus

Hey friends,

God has been doing crazy things in my life everyday. It is so amazing knowing Christ, and being in relationship with Him. He doesn't let one day be normal when you're friends with Him. I just don't know what I would do if Jesus wasn't my savior. This all occurred to me in a crazy way a couple of months ago back in Spokane, Washington.
Here's the story.
        It was an ungodly hour of the morning and I woke up to go watch the sunrise with a friend. Those plans ended up being cancelled a few minutes after I got ready, so I was going to go back to bed, but then God nudged me (He's God-so it's pretty obvious when He nudges you). So I stayed awake and sat infront of my bedroom window and watched the sunrise. Then God started taking me on a little trip with my thoughts. I began thinking of life. What is life, why are we here, what do we do with our time here? Then the question came to me that boggled me the most: What does everyone want the most out of life? According to our natural human instinct, what does a great life look like? And how do I obtain that?, God aside. I began to ponder it more and it occurred to me that people want to know great people and be known by great people. But humans also want to love and be loved. To be known and to be loved are our greatest desires. If I could just know people high up in society and they recognised and loved me, then I could be somebody. That made enough sense to me. But who is the greatest person I could know and be loved by? The president of the U.S.? Mr. Universe (hahaha)? Maybe Oprah, I don't know. Those are certainly great and influential people, but in that statement lies the problem. They are just people and can only do so much-no, I want to know and be loved by someone even more powerful and influential. The only person that matched that description was Jesus Christ, who is Lord. It dawned on me (yeah, I'm quick) that knowing God and loving God was the greatest life I could possibly have. This is because He RULES the ENTIRE universe! He created it ALL! Who has more power and influence than that? I know that guy! We hang out! Man! But it didn't stop there (at this point my head was spinning with excitement) No, it doesn't stop there. He knows me, too! And He's not just aware of my presence, or just acknowledges that I exist and leaves me alone. He PURSUES an intimate relationship with me and LOVES me! He created a way for us to be together through His son Jesus dying on the cross! (the good news) And this isn't human, unfaithful, limited, selfish love. This is real love, the holy, selfless, furious, passionate, jealous, relentless LOVE. I do life with the King of the Universe, who is absolutely head over heals for me and wants to hang out with me and be involved in my life! Bah!!! Life is amazing! I am living the greatest life I could possibly live because I'm living it hand in hand with the Creator of the world and the greatest Lover of my soul.

I can't enter into each day without expectations for greatness anymore. God is too big and exciting to not expect amazing things each day. And the closer you get to Him, the more there is to learn about Him. And He wants an intimate relationship (the most intimate relationship you could ever have) with everyone! No one is left out, He wants everyone with Himself, at His very heart. He's crazy and I love Him.

So, I am going to go do something crazy amazing today simply because I know Christ and He knows and loves me. I hope that you do the same.

Farewell adventurers,
Demetria

Here in Maui

Aloha my lovely friends,
  I am currently in Maui, Hawaii (if you couldn't pick that up from the pictures.) I've been here for a month now, but leave in a week. It's been incredible. I came out here with my best friend Hannah from Chicago. It's been amazing how our friendship has grown through this trip, we literally spend every waking moment with one another. I feel like I'm married. Anyway, I'll recap most of the trip in the most concise way possible.
Great feats of this Maui trip:
-overcame fear of being on a surfboard in the water (now I can't wait to get out there on a board)
-got to meet up and spend quality time with old friends
-got my first sting from a Jellyfish (I felt pretty badass the rest of the day ;D )
-had great communion and worship at the YWAM base here and at New Hope Church
-made new friends from all over the world
-Hiked through the West Maui Mountains
-had my first acai bowl
-the hitchhiking ministry we were able to be a part of

Hardships of this Maui trip:
-Its hot up here in Haiku
-my toes were busted the first couple of weeks here (making it painful to do most activities)
-being away from my new home, Spokane and all my friends there
-HAVING TO LEAVE MAUI

That last one was a bit dramatic, but you can sympathize. Hannah will be heading to Chicago next Thursday while I head back to Spokane, Washington. I am very excited to head back, but as you can tell, it will be hard to leave here again. Especially with my new surfing addiction. Spokane is 6 hours from any waves to shred on. I will begin school at Spokane Falls Community College at the end of September and will be there until I finish my Gen Eds, so that way I can be a part of my Moody community in Spokane for a little longer. Then I will head to a university to pursue a degree in International Business. (hopefully WWU). Well, that's the gist of my life right now. Stay tuned for my next post where I will update you on my spiritual life. God is doing crazy things! I love it!
Naturally,
Demetria