My family attended a Presbyterian Church for as long as I can remember. At a Catholic high school, I appreciated the religious education, influence and opportunity to discover my personal relationship with God. During my Junior Encounter at Jesuit (a women’s-only retreat filled with personal testimonies, small groups, prayer and reflection), I felt the deep incredible love of God, my Family and Community. The same year I attended the Young Life camp, Malibu, and for me, God was everywhere. I have always valued the knowledge that Jesus loved me unconditionally and Church provided a welcome home, no matter where I lived or what I was up to in my personal life.
After graduating from Oregon State, I moved to San Francisco, knowing no one but evolving so much as a person when I lived there. Four years later I moved to La Jolla, knowing only my now-husband. During each transition in my life I look back at the moments when I’ve felt most alone…like footprints in the sand, those memories were quickly followed by great opportunities to meet new friends, join a Bible Study or attend a new Church. Putting myself “out there” is never easy, but the reward of discovering a Christian family is what Community is all about. Here at LJPC, my husband, daughters and I, live and fellowship among such a fun, energetic and loving Community of Christians. We are supported through sermons and worship services, Sunday school, the YMC Group, Bible Studies and our Young Mom’s Growth Group. For me personally, each of these ministries provide a vibrant sense of Community that make La Jolla truly feel like home, even though my relatives live over a thousand miles away.
The incredible thing about Community which is hard to describe for me, are the moments when I feel the Holy Spirit moving within me and leading me toward an action. On the mornings I am tired and don’t want to get up and go to church, there is an internal pull that brings me here on Sundays. When I’m in my Bible Study or Growth Group and I’m completely open to hearing God’s voice, I feel the “push” of the Holy Spirit encouraging me to speak and say something specific or ask a question that I don’t know where it’s coming from, only to find out the answer was not mine, but something to be shared from someone else’s heart…how amazing that God makes it possible for us to openly hear and support one another. I feel that working and living within the LJPC Community is where God wants me right now in my life and I am grateful this is our home.
This past year I changed the way I pray. I learned from listening in church to pray more openly to God, asking Him to use me for His Glory and to speak to me, not expecting Him to change someone else, but to change my own heart. I am excited to find out what He has in store for me and my family. None of us know how long we have in this place, or where we will be in 10 years, but I can’t wait to see what God is going to do through our Community at LJPC this next year and the year after that. My prayer is that we all find our own personal relationship with God, and don’t fear sharing the joy and hard times with one another. When I put my pride aside, and chose action and love, not fear, I am excited to discover whatever plans God has in store for my life. Praise God.
The Bible Verse that brings me home every time I struggle, reminding me I am living for Him and He in control of my life is Jeremiah 29:11-13. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”