Where We Be

Hey all y'all!
Greetings from super sunny North Cali!!!! Oh my word I am having THE greatest time here!!! It is beautiful, and sunny here :) For any of you who are wondering why I'm in Cali is because my great Aunt turned 80 and she wanted us all to come down here to stay in a big lake-house for a family reunion. We have met so many amazing people with amazing stories and great joy, happiness and friendship to share :) Here are some photos :) (photo courtesy of my brother Zack)

At the top of the house is a weather-vane with a pineapple and a cup of coffee- the pineapple symbolizes "welcome" and the coffee symbolizes "hospitality".

The floor of one of the showers!!!! Sooo pretty! It looks like a river in Autumn :)

This is a Lassen Burger. People used to wait 45 minutes just to get one of these. They are really big and juicy and full of flavor. It's an insult to ask for ketchup, but you don't need it at all!

Here's the beautiful lake and sunset!!!

Playin some old time fiddle tunes with my brother on guitar, and friend of the family playing the dobro- really neat!

Here I am on the dock next to the lake :) It's crazy that even after being on normal land for two hours, I still feel like I'm moving...

So there you go. My week so far has been incredible here. I hope you all are doing great! Blessings!

                                                                                                             -Sharhaiah

This Generation

"Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts."

                                                                                                                              -Psalm 145:4

This week God has been putting prayers for this generation and the next generation on my heart. I've heard of so many stories and seen so much destruction and sadness occur this week.  I have heard what could happen, but will not happen! Last night I listened to a podcast by Pastor Jabin Chavez encouraging us in this generation to dream big. Like really big!!!! Why do we think that there's no hope for this generation, when there really is?!

Isaiah 7:11 says "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!"

 Listen to God. He says that we can ask for anything- even the moon. If you need to right now ask him to take over your schools, your homes, your families, your realationships, your friendships. When God takes over- the product is stunning! I mean seriously- if our God created this earth- what more do you think he can do for you?

See what God has already done in your life? And He wants to do even more. He wants you to dream way out of your comfort zone. If you need a car, or a house, or a job, or even a friend- ask him for that and more. Nothing is too small for God. Ever. And I know I've already said this but; if you think you're too big for God then you become your own God, and that's a very scary place to be in.  

Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

God has not abandoned us. He wants our futures to be bright and He wants us to help show others his love so their futures can be changed too. It all starts with love. It all started with love, and it will end in love. Our God is a God who loves- "our God is love" (1 John 4:8.) Starting at simply loving God and loving people is probably the best step you can take in changing your own life and the lives of other people.

I want to end this short note on this; I highly encourage you to start praying for this generation- that we may be changed into people who seek the Lord's face. If you have already been praying- high five for you, things are already changing because of your faith, way to be a leader! God bless you all. :)

                                                                                                                                -Sharhaiah :)

Light

"God spoke: 'Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years.'" -Genesis 1:14 MSG

I cannot even begin to imagine how amazing the begining of Creation must have been. An all powerful being, that we cannot see the image of, but that we see leave finger prints all over the earth; spoke all this into being?! Incredible! Have you seen the images from the Hubble Telescope? Look here http://hubblesite.org/. It just blows my mind! If you have eyes, ears, or a brain you should at least believe that something, someone bigger than ourselves placed us on this earth for a reason. You were born for a reason. You were born to live, to breathe, you have a purpose, you have a destiny. You were born to shine! God had a plan for all of this. God's plans are not ours- I am constantly reminding myself of this. I am reminded of a passage from Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis (highly recommended!) Bell says " The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God, we are dealing with somebody we made up. And if we made him up, then we are in control." You see- if we try to deal with our own lives and not let God take over- we become our own god, which is scary. Either God is real, or He is not. And I'd rather believe that He is- not out of fear, but because I have seen his love. Shine on! -Sharhaiah

Here is my favorite song about Genesis 1:14. It is by Gungor.