Wow.
I remember when I thought moving to Arlington would be the coolest place to just hang out for a couple years until I could move somewhere else, with plans to be with someone else, doing something else.
I remember driving into DC every day at first, thinking how phenomenal it was that I worked in the nation's capitol. I remember my first paycheck and then, the weeks that followed, when the lonliness set in and the first time I really missed a church family. Sense of community. Any type of reminder that God was out there and hadn't just left me by myself.
And I remember so many firsts after that... my first sit-down with a good friend who told me God had huge plans for my life. The first time I realized that God might possibly want me to live out a plan that could look a little different than what I had in mind. The first time I lost it at the thought of losing the grip I had on my reality. Getting angry. Tears; so frustrated that God couldn't line up His plans with mine.
And the compromises to keep things the way I wanted them only led further to me trying to find more of my own answers. I distinctly remember sitting in my car outside the townhouse, trying to map out timetables so I could still have everything work out the way I wanted. I felt like I had a suitcase that only held a limited amount of clothing, and I wanted to pack way too much of my closet into it. I only need one thing - the Jesus who saved me and gave me this incredible relationship with my Father, and I remember wanting Jesus and... I remember knowing that wanting Jesus and... was wrong, but doing it anyway. My rebellion. I remember times where I just flicked Him off and stuffed my suitcase to overflowing, struggling to shut it and never really succeeding.
And I remember the random turning points that existed along the way this past year. I remember January being the best and worst month, when I saw a glimpse of God's vision and turned my back. And through it all, I know faithfulness from a God who pursues His children. And I remember the final blow of it all, when everything crumbled despite my best efforts to keep things together. And the sweet hands that created the universe reached down and held me. A nobody. Someone who fought and fought so hard to not let Him have His way was cradled in grace and mercy, like a daughter finding the arms of her father after a nightmare.
That's the journey of Arlington. That's the story of how then became now; of how the love of Jesus became the only reality I need to know.
Humbled. That God would take this tangled life and all the thorns I choose to cling to and gently set me free from this sinful nature. Strength to choose Him every day.
And now, Manassas. The sweet beginning where I can forget about the past and with joy, look to the future. Someone was telling me yesterday about how they have their whole life planned out and I realized I was smiling. Because a year ago, just a year ago, I would've said the same thing. And now I don't know what is happening tomorrow. And I have so much peace about not knowing, so much joy in not knowing. Who would've thought?
And Lord, You know this journey, as You've been so gracious as to hold me through it all. You deserve all the glory for the peace and dreams that have been realized. You deserve every ounce of life. You gave, and You took away for Your name's sake. And You allowed me to experience this sweet desperation for You; this powerful love and affection for a Savior who first loved me. I don't even know how to say 'thank You;' who am I? Who am I that You would hold me and allow me to be kept safe for Your purpose now? That You would bring about this road and guide me here? So I'm Yours. Wholly and completely Yours. So others may know, so others will hear Your love and truth, so others will find their peace and comfort in You and fall massively in love with You. God. The stars are Yours, yet You choose to bring resurrection to Your humans here on Earth. You reached down and rescued me. Why? I don't need to know why, but the question causes me to catch my breath every time, because I am literally nothing. What is here is only a reflection of Your power and life-changing love. Redemption.
So Lord, I'm off to Manassas. I don't remember being this excited about anything before in my life. This is the journey; this is the adventure. This is why I was created. Purpose. To glorify You. All of me for You. That's all that matters, Lord.
Wow. This year literally has been life-changing in every way. God is so good.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Last minute
So its 12:32 and I can't really sleep. I have my Bebo Norman Pandora Station (get it NOW, thank me later), and a million things running through my head.
I don't really have groceries. Well, that's a lie. I have Cheerios, peanut butter and Jelly, and some rice. Maybe some extra cans of Campbells. None of that is really super healthy. I feel like I gained 20 lbs on vacation. Ran today, but need to run more. Bike more. Do something.
California - I'm still on California time. I want to disappear somewhere into Santa Barbara and just learn to surf - I can become that tattooed beach bum who gets to know the tourists and sells them random junk I find on the beach for inflated prices.
I need to do more research for work. But today was crazy, and tomorrow will be crazy, as Kiara and I are going to this DoD meeting to pitch Aurora to some folks who are trying to start a veterans clinic at Northern Virginia Community College. Kinda thrilled that Tom trusts us to do that - on the same token, kinda terrified that he trusts us to do that. He'll be in and out a lot this week, so I'll have time to research more. I hope.
And then, all I thought about today was EBC. The youth group. The college students. They are my heart and the joy I find in the Lord is a gift gained through serving them. And more and more I look at my job and wonder where this will lead me in 5 years? 10 years? Tom's already given me the Masters Degree talk, and says he sees in me a natural knack for leading and wants me to stay and grow with the company. Humbling. Sweet. Seriously, I'm so honored that my boss has that reaction, but my growth there can only be attributed to Christ wanting to keep me there for now. And I wonder more and more how He expects me to stay when all I think about are the students - their lives, their needs, and how we're all just in this together, praying for one another, keeping the accountability, bearing burdens. I do, however, firmly beleive that God will not give me more than I can handle in order to serve Him, so for now, if this is where I am with life, than God gets the credit for A. keeping me sane enough to stay employed and B. molding me into something useful to be used by Him.
He's all that matters.
The Romania trip. The college girls' small group. The youth group and the move to Manassas. Wow. That's happening this weekend. Noah - lesson for one of the Wednesday nights. Praying over it, want it to be something they need to hear.
So many people on my heart tonight. Can't sleep. Thankful for California, but ready to be home.
This is home. This is where pride is slashed by a God who replaces our walls with His hedge of protection. This is where hope rises and hearts are powerfully moved and changed. This is the edge of brokenness. This is where you don't know what hit you and suddenly everything's a whirlwind of better plans that I never thought could've been the blueprint of my life. This is where you think you have it all; you've got a good shot and no one can touch you and then you fall of the ladder. The Rock is solid and mighty and you look up into the faces of people you suddenly love like brothers and sisters. People who are broken and healed like you and there's hope.
Wow. Praise God for the wreckage. The unanswered prayers. The dreams that never came true. Praise God for a whole new beginning on His terms. Praise God for people - all types of people who are searching for truth and genuinely desire brokenness over hypocrisy. Praise God for truth. Most of all, Praise God for Jesus who came to rescue us out of this pit, so we won't live this Earthly life forever. We're free. We're whole in the God who claims us as His children.
So tonight, its 5 til 1. God reigns over my busy day. My forgotten grocery list. My last minute adjustments. My worries and plans and inadequacies. The students I care about are His, and their lives are in His hands.
Freedom. Exists to sleep and dream deeply; tie all these loose ends into an unrecognizable ending that tells itself so much clearer, purer, and richer than I ever could.
I don't really have groceries. Well, that's a lie. I have Cheerios, peanut butter and Jelly, and some rice. Maybe some extra cans of Campbells. None of that is really super healthy. I feel like I gained 20 lbs on vacation. Ran today, but need to run more. Bike more. Do something.
California - I'm still on California time. I want to disappear somewhere into Santa Barbara and just learn to surf - I can become that tattooed beach bum who gets to know the tourists and sells them random junk I find on the beach for inflated prices.
I need to do more research for work. But today was crazy, and tomorrow will be crazy, as Kiara and I are going to this DoD meeting to pitch Aurora to some folks who are trying to start a veterans clinic at Northern Virginia Community College. Kinda thrilled that Tom trusts us to do that - on the same token, kinda terrified that he trusts us to do that. He'll be in and out a lot this week, so I'll have time to research more. I hope.
And then, all I thought about today was EBC. The youth group. The college students. They are my heart and the joy I find in the Lord is a gift gained through serving them. And more and more I look at my job and wonder where this will lead me in 5 years? 10 years? Tom's already given me the Masters Degree talk, and says he sees in me a natural knack for leading and wants me to stay and grow with the company. Humbling. Sweet. Seriously, I'm so honored that my boss has that reaction, but my growth there can only be attributed to Christ wanting to keep me there for now. And I wonder more and more how He expects me to stay when all I think about are the students - their lives, their needs, and how we're all just in this together, praying for one another, keeping the accountability, bearing burdens. I do, however, firmly beleive that God will not give me more than I can handle in order to serve Him, so for now, if this is where I am with life, than God gets the credit for A. keeping me sane enough to stay employed and B. molding me into something useful to be used by Him.
He's all that matters.
The Romania trip. The college girls' small group. The youth group and the move to Manassas. Wow. That's happening this weekend. Noah - lesson for one of the Wednesday nights. Praying over it, want it to be something they need to hear.
So many people on my heart tonight. Can't sleep. Thankful for California, but ready to be home.
This is home. This is where pride is slashed by a God who replaces our walls with His hedge of protection. This is where hope rises and hearts are powerfully moved and changed. This is the edge of brokenness. This is where you don't know what hit you and suddenly everything's a whirlwind of better plans that I never thought could've been the blueprint of my life. This is where you think you have it all; you've got a good shot and no one can touch you and then you fall of the ladder. The Rock is solid and mighty and you look up into the faces of people you suddenly love like brothers and sisters. People who are broken and healed like you and there's hope.
Wow. Praise God for the wreckage. The unanswered prayers. The dreams that never came true. Praise God for a whole new beginning on His terms. Praise God for people - all types of people who are searching for truth and genuinely desire brokenness over hypocrisy. Praise God for truth. Most of all, Praise God for Jesus who came to rescue us out of this pit, so we won't live this Earthly life forever. We're free. We're whole in the God who claims us as His children.
So tonight, its 5 til 1. God reigns over my busy day. My forgotten grocery list. My last minute adjustments. My worries and plans and inadequacies. The students I care about are His, and their lives are in His hands.
Freedom. Exists to sleep and dream deeply; tie all these loose ends into an unrecognizable ending that tells itself so much clearer, purer, and richer than I ever could.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Quit Waiting
I think I've been told too many times to just "wait on God." He'll fix me if I just wait on His plan, and eventually everything will fall into place. But in the mean time, there's this gap left wide open while I'm actually doing the waiting, and evil is very busy.
And I do it all the time, but mostly as a reason to put off things that are scary or uncomfortable; if I just wait this one out, life will be a lot better eventually. Because God obviously does not want me to be uncomfortable. Sitting around doing nothing, cowering down and expecting trials to just blow over, is definitely what the Lord intended me to learn from all this...
I love the water. I love the ocean, the sea stories my Navy family would always tell, the movies about old adventures on the ocean; pretty much anything dealing with the water makes me feel right at home and happy. So when I read this section of today's devo by Oswald Chambers, I understood it and starting examining stuff:
"If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment."
And do you know why this is cool? No, not because my boss walked by this morning and saw "Utmost" lying on my desk and looked at me weird. Though that did happen. And he asked about my tattoo yesterday and said he wants to hear the story behind it. Praying for him. Anyway. Here's the message I got out of it: quit being a coward. Quit using the excuse that you feel a certain way (lost, hurt, angry, etc) to hinder whatever God's calling you to do, b/c waiting for one emotional trial to pass is a sure way of inviting another one to take its place, and before you know it, you've wasted time. And our God is fearless, so seriously, what makes me think that I was intended to be someone who waits? Use your story for the Lord. Use your life for the Lord. Accept that the future is the future and today, you are a living and breathing instrument for Christ with nothing to wait for. Nothing.
Ellen: If God wants you to be a missionary, then for now, He has you in SNVC and you are being used there, and the IMB will get around to you when God wants them to. So quit putting off mission opps at your office waiting for the IMB. Or quit putting off opps to meet up and love on students waiting for something international. Maybe the desire you have to go overseas is something the devil is using to hinder what God can do through you right here and now because you are so distracted by the WAIT. You're not paralyzed or frozen into a meaningless existance until the IMB gets back to you a few months from now.
Ellen: So you're moving to Manassas - great - but you have roommates in Arlington who are really hurting and need a friend. So what are you doing about them in the meantime? You haven't even been home before 11pm the past few days, and they need Jesus now. You are still living in Arlington for a reason; quit WAITING for things to get better when you move to Manassas because right now, your roommates still don't know Jesus.
Ellen: If God has given you a testimony, then use it and don't wait around for certain things to sting a little bit less than they do now. Get over yourself. If there's a time to be vulnerable, trust God with that time but don't wait it out. Someone may need to hear it. If you're learning how to swim in tumultuous waters, don't you think there's someone else who needs those same swimming lessons? Seriously, get over yourself and just obey.
Ellen: If God wants you to be single, then live life as a single girl for Him and quit waiting for something better to happen because a relationship with Jesus is not a means to an end. God didn't call you to Himself to hinder work He has cut out for you by marriage to the wrong person. If you are with someone, it will be a man who enables your ministry to happen in a more powerful way than you could accomplish on your own. So QUIT WAITING and just move towards Christ; RUN after Christ and if you don't collide with someone else, Jesus is all you need.
Jesus is worth the storms, He's worth all the feelings that leave you feeling low, and He's worth obeying, even if its a terrifying call or something that leaves you feeling vulnerable, open, and easily targeted. Scared. Jesus is worth it.
So Ellen, quit waiting.
And I do it all the time, but mostly as a reason to put off things that are scary or uncomfortable; if I just wait this one out, life will be a lot better eventually. Because God obviously does not want me to be uncomfortable. Sitting around doing nothing, cowering down and expecting trials to just blow over, is definitely what the Lord intended me to learn from all this...
I love the water. I love the ocean, the sea stories my Navy family would always tell, the movies about old adventures on the ocean; pretty much anything dealing with the water makes me feel right at home and happy. So when I read this section of today's devo by Oswald Chambers, I understood it and starting examining stuff:
"If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment."
And do you know why this is cool? No, not because my boss walked by this morning and saw "Utmost" lying on my desk and looked at me weird. Though that did happen. And he asked about my tattoo yesterday and said he wants to hear the story behind it. Praying for him. Anyway. Here's the message I got out of it: quit being a coward. Quit using the excuse that you feel a certain way (lost, hurt, angry, etc) to hinder whatever God's calling you to do, b/c waiting for one emotional trial to pass is a sure way of inviting another one to take its place, and before you know it, you've wasted time. And our God is fearless, so seriously, what makes me think that I was intended to be someone who waits? Use your story for the Lord. Use your life for the Lord. Accept that the future is the future and today, you are a living and breathing instrument for Christ with nothing to wait for. Nothing.
Ellen: If God wants you to be a missionary, then for now, He has you in SNVC and you are being used there, and the IMB will get around to you when God wants them to. So quit putting off mission opps at your office waiting for the IMB. Or quit putting off opps to meet up and love on students waiting for something international. Maybe the desire you have to go overseas is something the devil is using to hinder what God can do through you right here and now because you are so distracted by the WAIT. You're not paralyzed or frozen into a meaningless existance until the IMB gets back to you a few months from now.
Ellen: So you're moving to Manassas - great - but you have roommates in Arlington who are really hurting and need a friend. So what are you doing about them in the meantime? You haven't even been home before 11pm the past few days, and they need Jesus now. You are still living in Arlington for a reason; quit WAITING for things to get better when you move to Manassas because right now, your roommates still don't know Jesus.
Ellen: If God has given you a testimony, then use it and don't wait around for certain things to sting a little bit less than they do now. Get over yourself. If there's a time to be vulnerable, trust God with that time but don't wait it out. Someone may need to hear it. If you're learning how to swim in tumultuous waters, don't you think there's someone else who needs those same swimming lessons? Seriously, get over yourself and just obey.
Ellen: If God wants you to be single, then live life as a single girl for Him and quit waiting for something better to happen because a relationship with Jesus is not a means to an end. God didn't call you to Himself to hinder work He has cut out for you by marriage to the wrong person. If you are with someone, it will be a man who enables your ministry to happen in a more powerful way than you could accomplish on your own. So QUIT WAITING and just move towards Christ; RUN after Christ and if you don't collide with someone else, Jesus is all you need.
Jesus is worth the storms, He's worth all the feelings that leave you feeling low, and He's worth obeying, even if its a terrifying call or something that leaves you feeling vulnerable, open, and easily targeted. Scared. Jesus is worth it.
So Ellen, quit waiting.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Dear Sofia,
[I wrote this 2 years ago for a girl named Sofia whom I used to babysit; posted it for the students who know broken homes all too well.]
I don't know how to begin this letter.
It would help by explaining that all I can do is look into your life from the outside
I've experienced brokenness, but not as you have.
My hope came later; you need yours at such a tender age.
There's a separation between our worlds, and my own words are so incredibly insufficient to reach you.
The only thing I can offer is a truth so supernatural, no human could attempt to fulfill it.
Your mom shouldn't have left you
Your dad shouldn't still be out at 2 in the morning.
You seem too young to understand, too young to be familiar with bitterness.
But you do understand, don't you? At such a young age, there's already a reason to wonder why the world isn't fair, and you find it harder to trust those who are never supposed to hurt you.
Sofia,
I wish so much.
That you had a childhood full of beauty and innocence, the likes of which you deserved.
That you never knew the sting of a broken heart.
That you knew every minute of every day that you were massively loved, despite your parents' failure to show this.
That you didn't have reason to doubt the beauty of a family, a marriage, a home.
There were original, good intentions for you, Sofia
and
Your existence is proof that there are miracles left in this dark, wicked world.
There is a Strength that can defend you against the most monstrous insanities.
There is a Father whose love won't fail.
He won't walk out on you and leave you wondering what you did wrong.
He won't make you second guess His commitment to you.
He never breaks His promises.
His passion over you is a blanket of restoration; you'll never find it from any man or woman on earth.
Curl up with this truth tonight; let it keep you warm and serenade you
It won't ever go away because it's more powerful than
Death.
And Sofia,
It's yours.
I'm sorry this world's cruelty
Startled you awake
A nightmare in the middle of a dream
But know Love, Sofia,
know this Love created to hold you
far above life's tragedies.
They have been conquered so you can drift back to sleep.
Sweet dreams, Princess.
It would help by explaining that all I can do is look into your life from the outside
I've experienced brokenness, but not as you have.
My hope came later; you need yours at such a tender age.
There's a separation between our worlds, and my own words are so incredibly insufficient to reach you.
The only thing I can offer is a truth so supernatural, no human could attempt to fulfill it.
Your mom shouldn't have left you
Your dad shouldn't still be out at 2 in the morning.
You seem too young to understand, too young to be familiar with bitterness.
But you do understand, don't you? At such a young age, there's already a reason to wonder why the world isn't fair, and you find it harder to trust those who are never supposed to hurt you.
Sofia,
I wish so much.
That you had a childhood full of beauty and innocence, the likes of which you deserved.
That you never knew the sting of a broken heart.
That you knew every minute of every day that you were massively loved, despite your parents' failure to show this.
That you didn't have reason to doubt the beauty of a family, a marriage, a home.
There were original, good intentions for you, Sofia
and
Your existence is proof that there are miracles left in this dark, wicked world.
There is a Strength that can defend you against the most monstrous insanities.
There is a Father whose love won't fail.
He won't walk out on you and leave you wondering what you did wrong.
He won't make you second guess His commitment to you.
He never breaks His promises.
His passion over you is a blanket of restoration; you'll never find it from any man or woman on earth.
Curl up with this truth tonight; let it keep you warm and serenade you
It won't ever go away because it's more powerful than
Death.
And Sofia,
It's yours.
I'm sorry this world's cruelty
Startled you awake
A nightmare in the middle of a dream
But know Love, Sofia,
know this Love created to hold you
far above life's tragedies.
They have been conquered so you can drift back to sleep.
Sweet dreams, Princess.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
GenY/Millenial Workforce
*This entry is based off an article I read about my generation of workers: the Generation Y, or Millenial workforce. Since workforce development is something that really interests me, I thought I'd share some thoughts on how to motivate and retain the future generations of the American workforce. Article: HOW TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND INSPIRE THE FUTURE WORKFORCE: Understanding the Class of 2011.
"This post is dedicated to the 19% of SNVC employees who are part of the GenY/Millenial generation. Relevent, because two members of the rewards team are GenY (Dustin and myself), and as I read through the article, a lot of things really resonated with me. More relevent is that SNVC is already doing several of these things, and the suggestions for how to improve rewards for Gen Y workers have been discussed in passing.
First off, the values that GenY holds as most important are transparency, engagement, reputation, and communication. Obviously, Leadership, Integrity, and Commitment can encompass the four above values easily.
When meeting with Gen Y’s to conduct this study, the writers found that the top 3 motivators were salary, work challenge, and career advancement. I’d like to just camp out here for a second, because though motivators may not necessarily be “rewards,” the better the motivators are in a company, the more likely individuals will qualify for rewards. But I think that challenging work and career advancement, even salary levels are things that my generation is led to expect from an employer. I feel like these things are definitely good motivators, as in, I want to eventually have challenging work and advance in my career and earn a decent salary, but they are not things that should be handed to new employees. They should be earned, and once earned, they should be rewarded.
The GenYs interviewed thought so, too. They valued “experience” second out of the top three rewards they might hope to earn: topping the list was Travel, then Expereince, then Products. Only 16% valued service awards, such as pens, plaques, etc. Still, 92% of North American companies still use services awards as a way of recognizing significant achievement. As the older workforce generations begin to retire and the younger workforce solidifies itself as one of the most educated, innovative workforces leading America, it is of utmost importance that the rewards given to the Millenial workers will feed their desire to continually improve. Since challenge and experience are things that are important to GenYs, it makes sense to me that using the challenges and experiences as incentives would not be redundant or cause a lack of interest; they are not predictable gifts, like service awards may seem to a GenY.
One of the suggestions from the article was to use SAAS (software as a service) to provide a rewards deck where employees could go online and pick out their reward. Perhaps, using SNVC’s model of awarding employees, they could have the option of accepting a financial award or they could find options that are of equal value. SNVC has a “time-off” option where employees can equate their monetary incentive into leave, but what other options could the money translate into as far as rewards go? How can career advancement, quality work experiences, or travel be translated into earned rewards that incentivize a younger workforce to continually improve? How can SNVC use its rewards program as a flexible entity that meets the needs of a growing GenY workforce, as well as those who are older?
A final point from this article noted that a “one-size-fits-all” solution is bound to fail. There are varying degrees of what is valued in a rewards program among employees who operate under a certain set of values, such as the multiple generations who strive towards leadership, integrity, and commitment in their work. How a 25 year old is rewarded for their integrity may look different than how a 55 year old is rewarded. A flexible program tailored for many different types of people seems to be a good starting point to begin looking for creative reward ideas."
http://snvcrewards.wordpress.com/
"This post is dedicated to the 19% of SNVC employees who are part of the GenY/Millenial generation. Relevent, because two members of the rewards team are GenY (Dustin and myself), and as I read through the article, a lot of things really resonated with me. More relevent is that SNVC is already doing several of these things, and the suggestions for how to improve rewards for Gen Y workers have been discussed in passing.
First off, the values that GenY holds as most important are transparency, engagement, reputation, and communication. Obviously, Leadership, Integrity, and Commitment can encompass the four above values easily.
When meeting with Gen Y’s to conduct this study, the writers found that the top 3 motivators were salary, work challenge, and career advancement. I’d like to just camp out here for a second, because though motivators may not necessarily be “rewards,” the better the motivators are in a company, the more likely individuals will qualify for rewards. But I think that challenging work and career advancement, even salary levels are things that my generation is led to expect from an employer. I feel like these things are definitely good motivators, as in, I want to eventually have challenging work and advance in my career and earn a decent salary, but they are not things that should be handed to new employees. They should be earned, and once earned, they should be rewarded.
The GenYs interviewed thought so, too. They valued “experience” second out of the top three rewards they might hope to earn: topping the list was Travel, then Expereince, then Products. Only 16% valued service awards, such as pens, plaques, etc. Still, 92% of North American companies still use services awards as a way of recognizing significant achievement. As the older workforce generations begin to retire and the younger workforce solidifies itself as one of the most educated, innovative workforces leading America, it is of utmost importance that the rewards given to the Millenial workers will feed their desire to continually improve. Since challenge and experience are things that are important to GenYs, it makes sense to me that using the challenges and experiences as incentives would not be redundant or cause a lack of interest; they are not predictable gifts, like service awards may seem to a GenY.
One of the suggestions from the article was to use SAAS (software as a service) to provide a rewards deck where employees could go online and pick out their reward. Perhaps, using SNVC’s model of awarding employees, they could have the option of accepting a financial award or they could find options that are of equal value. SNVC has a “time-off” option where employees can equate their monetary incentive into leave, but what other options could the money translate into as far as rewards go? How can career advancement, quality work experiences, or travel be translated into earned rewards that incentivize a younger workforce to continually improve? How can SNVC use its rewards program as a flexible entity that meets the needs of a growing GenY workforce, as well as those who are older?
A final point from this article noted that a “one-size-fits-all” solution is bound to fail. There are varying degrees of what is valued in a rewards program among employees who operate under a certain set of values, such as the multiple generations who strive towards leadership, integrity, and commitment in their work. How a 25 year old is rewarded for their integrity may look different than how a 55 year old is rewarded. A flexible program tailored for many different types of people seems to be a good starting point to begin looking for creative reward ideas."
http://snvcrewards.wordpress.com/
When He Speaks.
Yesterday was a beautiful day. It was hot and the air tasted like summer. There's nothing left behind me to see, and all the joy of going forward exists in the next several months. I'll get to actually go to California with two of my best friends, spend the summer with the youth and college students I love so much and grow closer to the family I have at EBC, as well as move to a place full of back country roads, pick-up trucks, small-town feel, and mountains. Maybe not what I envisioned; better. Something peaceful for now; just what I needed.
And in meditating on the joys of looking ahead, I was just reading in my Bible yesterday about David's looking ahead. It was full of the knowledge of where he had come from and what he would do to bring God praise. And the next Psalm, 72, is just full of anticipation of how God will vindicate and protect those who trust in Him. Full of the future and the joy of living life with a Holy God.
So I'm sitting outside yesterday, mulling over everything in my head about just how God's brought me here to this point and He spoke to me. Which is SO COOL. Because I'm starting to learn more and more how God speaks to me; its in the moments where I've been quiet before Him and humbled and in the midst of falling deeper in love with who He is as my Savior. And its like, in the middle of knowing just how desperate I am for Him to purely live, He hits me with something I needed to know. Something that stays with me and helps me through the rest of the day... In this case, I will remember this my whole life.
A long time ago, back in October, He did the same thing. I was starting to truly understand what it was to follow Christ selflessly, and was realizing there were things in my life that I was clinging to and wanted to maintain along with a relationship with Christ. I wanted my Jesus on my terms, and was really wrestling with what it meant to give that up and live fully in God. So I remember sitting in the sanctuary by myself (like I seem to have done a lot of over the past several months) and asking God the tough questions: if I give this up to you, I'll never ... get married, or have a family, or get to travel everywhere, or have success, get my masters - you name it, I thought that i would lose it if I gave up keeping God at arms' length. And He listened to all my arguing, all my tough questions. I asked Him for the answer to everything, just wanted to have some sort of control over the life that I was losing control of anyway. Clear as day, He told me to trust Him, and that all the questions I was asking about my future: "It's a surprise."
This was especially hard to hear because I'm a planner and an executer. I see something I want, and I work hard to get it. If it doesn't go the way I expected it to go, I make back-up plans and figure out a second-best option. Nothing catches me off-guard, nothing startles me, and I can always tell you the end of the story because I'm the one who made the story happen the way I wanted it to happen in the first place.
Sound selfish? A little? Yeah. This mindset has worked for me until moving to Northern Virginia; I've since watched everything gracefully fall apart. Now I'm in this dark church sanctuary, begging for answers, and I hear, "It's a surprise. Your life's work - well, you'll just be surprised at what you end up doing for Me. Maybe you'll get a masters degree, but it'll be in something I want you to have. Maybe you'll get married. Maybe you know him already, and maybe you don't; but until then, you are Mine. It's all a surprise. So quit planning and just trust me."
So since then, more and more has crumbled into a heap of ashes at the feet of Jesus to get to the point I am now: no plans, no clues, no ideas, and no hint of what could possibly be around the corner. And yesterday, I sat there thinking over this fact, that God does have me where He wants me, and I am blessed to be able to freely love Him and obey Him, and through it all, He will yet be glorified. And in the quiet moment, He spoke to me sweet words that brought more comfort than I could ever imagine: "You will know Me." Through all this, on the lonely days, on the days you have questions, on the days you think you really went wrong, and on the days that you think nothing you do brings me honor, child, you will know Me.
You will know Me. Direct - there was no question I meant Ellen Marie Baumgardner.
You will know Me. It's a promise; a guarantee. Trust it.
You will know Me. Recognize My voice; rejoice in My presence.
You will know Me. The God of the universe; uncomprehendable.
........................................................................................................................................................
The voice of God is an undeniable voice that speaks truth that can be trusted. So thankful for the words I heard yesterday, and the journey forward that will bring me closer to my sweet Savior.
And in meditating on the joys of looking ahead, I was just reading in my Bible yesterday about David's looking ahead. It was full of the knowledge of where he had come from and what he would do to bring God praise. And the next Psalm, 72, is just full of anticipation of how God will vindicate and protect those who trust in Him. Full of the future and the joy of living life with a Holy God.
So I'm sitting outside yesterday, mulling over everything in my head about just how God's brought me here to this point and He spoke to me. Which is SO COOL. Because I'm starting to learn more and more how God speaks to me; its in the moments where I've been quiet before Him and humbled and in the midst of falling deeper in love with who He is as my Savior. And its like, in the middle of knowing just how desperate I am for Him to purely live, He hits me with something I needed to know. Something that stays with me and helps me through the rest of the day... In this case, I will remember this my whole life.
A long time ago, back in October, He did the same thing. I was starting to truly understand what it was to follow Christ selflessly, and was realizing there were things in my life that I was clinging to and wanted to maintain along with a relationship with Christ. I wanted my Jesus on my terms, and was really wrestling with what it meant to give that up and live fully in God. So I remember sitting in the sanctuary by myself (like I seem to have done a lot of over the past several months) and asking God the tough questions: if I give this up to you, I'll never ... get married, or have a family, or get to travel everywhere, or have success, get my masters - you name it, I thought that i would lose it if I gave up keeping God at arms' length. And He listened to all my arguing, all my tough questions. I asked Him for the answer to everything, just wanted to have some sort of control over the life that I was losing control of anyway. Clear as day, He told me to trust Him, and that all the questions I was asking about my future: "It's a surprise."
This was especially hard to hear because I'm a planner and an executer. I see something I want, and I work hard to get it. If it doesn't go the way I expected it to go, I make back-up plans and figure out a second-best option. Nothing catches me off-guard, nothing startles me, and I can always tell you the end of the story because I'm the one who made the story happen the way I wanted it to happen in the first place.
Sound selfish? A little? Yeah. This mindset has worked for me until moving to Northern Virginia; I've since watched everything gracefully fall apart. Now I'm in this dark church sanctuary, begging for answers, and I hear, "It's a surprise. Your life's work - well, you'll just be surprised at what you end up doing for Me. Maybe you'll get a masters degree, but it'll be in something I want you to have. Maybe you'll get married. Maybe you know him already, and maybe you don't; but until then, you are Mine. It's all a surprise. So quit planning and just trust me."
So since then, more and more has crumbled into a heap of ashes at the feet of Jesus to get to the point I am now: no plans, no clues, no ideas, and no hint of what could possibly be around the corner. And yesterday, I sat there thinking over this fact, that God does have me where He wants me, and I am blessed to be able to freely love Him and obey Him, and through it all, He will yet be glorified. And in the quiet moment, He spoke to me sweet words that brought more comfort than I could ever imagine: "You will know Me." Through all this, on the lonely days, on the days you have questions, on the days you think you really went wrong, and on the days that you think nothing you do brings me honor, child, you will know Me.
You will know Me. Direct - there was no question I meant Ellen Marie Baumgardner.
You will know Me. It's a promise; a guarantee. Trust it.
You will know Me. Recognize My voice; rejoice in My presence.
You will know Me. The God of the universe; uncomprehendable.
........................................................................................................................................................
The voice of God is an undeniable voice that speaks truth that can be trusted. So thankful for the words I heard yesterday, and the journey forward that will bring me closer to my sweet Savior.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
My First Hair-Dying Experience
I've never done this before. I have an hour to kill. Spur of the moment. Just walk in.
So I go into the Salon yesterday and its this awesome guy who I'm pretty sure was a flaming homosexual yet happened to be wonderful at dying hair. And he looks at me and goes "So girl, what's it gonna be todaaay?" And I pull out this picture and in my head, I'm running through all the things Kiara's told me to ask for in hair dye, trying to wrap my head around the fact that for the first time in my entire life I'm going to dye my hair.
Dark Brown/Auburn. And its going to be good. Kiara said that color would make my eyes pop, and to make sure I ask for just a little red b/c apparently too much will just make it all look wrong. Then wait, all of a sudden I've got eyebrows to worry about and what if they don't match my new hair color holy crap im going to have to dye them too and if i dont i'll be the freak with weird eyebrows and too-red dark hair.
Memories. stabbing me. Talked about dying my hair before but never followed through with it. The curls, the smiles, the "what-ifs," the possibilities that used to exist and never came to fruition, riding in the car with the windows down feeling so happy and light like nothing would ever shatter. Nothing could go wrong. Then out of nowhere I'm stripped of the security I thought I had and the flattery and the deceit slam into me like a ton of bricks and suddenly I just want to dye my hair anything and be totally new, something different and unrecognizable. I was doing fine. When did I get here?
Kenny's saying something and I snap back. He's holding up different colors and telling me which will make my eyes pop. Which go well with my skin tone, and not to worry, he's done this for 14 years and knows what he's doing. Deep breaths, just let Kenny tell you what looks best and quit worrying. Jump, don't think just jump. Just go.
So I pick a color. Kenny's "very pleased" with my decision and starts mixing the colors and washing my hair and I close my eyes and try to focus on eveything new in life. Every new start. The reasons for the new starts are like rays of sunshine peeking through my clouds today. I wonder what else is out there; its a big ol' world, ya know. Kenny's talking about California; I guess I told him I was going there soon and he's suddenly filling my head with places to go, things to see, mountains to climb, etc.
The dye's in. I'm getting a sweet little head massage simultaneously.
"So, why did you want to dye your hair?" Mmmm. Loaded question, Kenny.
"I just needed a change."
"Why did you need a change?" You don't quit, do ya Kenny?
So I start rambling about moving and graduating from college a year ago and getting a job up here and getting settled in... he's buying it...
"You want a change from all that? Those sound like good things." Dude. You're killing me. So fine, I'll become that girl who tells her life's tragedies to her hairstylist. I can totally do that.
"I just went through this break up. So I figured I'd dye my hair. I always wanted to, and now I just kinda feel like, 'why not,' ya know?"
"Oooooooh, and there it is.. Girl. I gotcha. I totally get it."
No, Kenny. You don't. But thanks for playing.
So the red of the dye hits my skin and it starts to stain my forehead and looks a bit like blood. Not cool. This was supposed to just be a quick little salon visit, not Ellen's vampire transformation. Next thing I know, I'll have fangs. Maybe I'm just too pale. Maybe I need to seriously hit the beach this weekend. I should work out more before I do that. I should run more, but wait I don't have time for anything and I feel like I'm in this race against time, where one day I'll be morbidly obese because I decided at 23 to keep myself busy 24/7 and not exercise. Spiralling into this. Losing control, and now there's red on my face and I can't get it off and the insecurities are slamming me again and I'm gripping for something that's not there - something I thought was there all along but never really existed in the first place...
Wow. Low. Feeling like the control is all gone, like the safety of someone else is all gone, like my world is cracked open and bleeding there's no tourniquet in sight. My God, I'm not even asking to be healed, I just want a little relief for a while.
So its done. I go back to get my hair washed again and Kenny gently removes all the red stains from my face. He rinses it out and from the corner of my eye, he's smiling. Actually, smiling is an understatement. That man has "happy" written all over his face.
"I love it." He didn't even sound like he was trying to flatter me; he just genuinely sounded like an artist who was pleased with his work.
Still haven't seen the finished product. He blow-drys my hair and styles it and I look in the mirror. It's a deep brown with hints of auburn throughout, and my eyebrows look completely natural with it, and my eyes are blue and I feel ... peaceful. New.
I love it, too.
So I go into the Salon yesterday and its this awesome guy who I'm pretty sure was a flaming homosexual yet happened to be wonderful at dying hair. And he looks at me and goes "So girl, what's it gonna be todaaay?" And I pull out this picture and in my head, I'm running through all the things Kiara's told me to ask for in hair dye, trying to wrap my head around the fact that for the first time in my entire life I'm going to dye my hair.
Dark Brown/Auburn. And its going to be good. Kiara said that color would make my eyes pop, and to make sure I ask for just a little red b/c apparently too much will just make it all look wrong. Then wait, all of a sudden I've got eyebrows to worry about and what if they don't match my new hair color holy crap im going to have to dye them too and if i dont i'll be the freak with weird eyebrows and too-red dark hair.
Memories. stabbing me. Talked about dying my hair before but never followed through with it. The curls, the smiles, the "what-ifs," the possibilities that used to exist and never came to fruition, riding in the car with the windows down feeling so happy and light like nothing would ever shatter. Nothing could go wrong. Then out of nowhere I'm stripped of the security I thought I had and the flattery and the deceit slam into me like a ton of bricks and suddenly I just want to dye my hair anything and be totally new, something different and unrecognizable. I was doing fine. When did I get here?
Kenny's saying something and I snap back. He's holding up different colors and telling me which will make my eyes pop. Which go well with my skin tone, and not to worry, he's done this for 14 years and knows what he's doing. Deep breaths, just let Kenny tell you what looks best and quit worrying. Jump, don't think just jump. Just go.
So I pick a color. Kenny's "very pleased" with my decision and starts mixing the colors and washing my hair and I close my eyes and try to focus on eveything new in life. Every new start. The reasons for the new starts are like rays of sunshine peeking through my clouds today. I wonder what else is out there; its a big ol' world, ya know. Kenny's talking about California; I guess I told him I was going there soon and he's suddenly filling my head with places to go, things to see, mountains to climb, etc.
The dye's in. I'm getting a sweet little head massage simultaneously.
"So, why did you want to dye your hair?" Mmmm. Loaded question, Kenny.
"I just needed a change."
"Why did you need a change?" You don't quit, do ya Kenny?
So I start rambling about moving and graduating from college a year ago and getting a job up here and getting settled in... he's buying it...
"You want a change from all that? Those sound like good things." Dude. You're killing me. So fine, I'll become that girl who tells her life's tragedies to her hairstylist. I can totally do that.
"I just went through this break up. So I figured I'd dye my hair. I always wanted to, and now I just kinda feel like, 'why not,' ya know?"
"Oooooooh, and there it is.. Girl. I gotcha. I totally get it."
No, Kenny. You don't. But thanks for playing.
So the red of the dye hits my skin and it starts to stain my forehead and looks a bit like blood. Not cool. This was supposed to just be a quick little salon visit, not Ellen's vampire transformation. Next thing I know, I'll have fangs. Maybe I'm just too pale. Maybe I need to seriously hit the beach this weekend. I should work out more before I do that. I should run more, but wait I don't have time for anything and I feel like I'm in this race against time, where one day I'll be morbidly obese because I decided at 23 to keep myself busy 24/7 and not exercise. Spiralling into this. Losing control, and now there's red on my face and I can't get it off and the insecurities are slamming me again and I'm gripping for something that's not there - something I thought was there all along but never really existed in the first place...
Wow. Low. Feeling like the control is all gone, like the safety of someone else is all gone, like my world is cracked open and bleeding there's no tourniquet in sight. My God, I'm not even asking to be healed, I just want a little relief for a while.
So its done. I go back to get my hair washed again and Kenny gently removes all the red stains from my face. He rinses it out and from the corner of my eye, he's smiling. Actually, smiling is an understatement. That man has "happy" written all over his face.
"I love it." He didn't even sound like he was trying to flatter me; he just genuinely sounded like an artist who was pleased with his work.
Still haven't seen the finished product. He blow-drys my hair and styles it and I look in the mirror. It's a deep brown with hints of auburn throughout, and my eyebrows look completely natural with it, and my eyes are blue and I feel ... peaceful. New.
I love it, too.
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