Today I got the urge to write my final World Race blog. I have been home for several months now and I don’t know why I have waited so long to write this… but here it goes.
The World Race was the most amazing, life changing event of my entire life (so far). Its right up there with big life events like moving out of your childhood home or graduating from college or getting your first real job. I can’t relate it to marriage or having babies yet but I’m sure it was similar in the life changing part as those things too.
It prepared me for the rest of my life and I have noticed its impact within the last few months of being home.
Before the World Race I thought I would never leave the Chattanooga area. Before the World Race I was prepared to teach. Before the World Race I was a friend to many.
Now I am living in Nashville three hours away from home, I am a teacher who has so many real life events to refer back to with my students and parents, and now I have the most amazing friends ALL OVER THE WORLD!!
The World Race was more important to me than I even want to admit. Its over now and I have had so many emotions about that but the biggest emotion is just an overwhelming joy to have had that season of my life. I am thankful for it…I will never forget the memories and life lessons learned.
But its time to move on…that is why I am ready to write my final World Race blog.
Since I’ve been home a lot has changed…like a lot.
I said goodbye to my World Race fam. They are all bringing Kingdom in every move they make as usual and its amazing to see what they are doing. I miss them every single day but WOW God is so using them as His hands and feet and it brings me joy to see.
I accepted my first teaching job. Y’all I get the opportunity to LOVE, HUG, and TEACH twenty amazing four year olds as my JOB!!!! I mean what a blessing that there is a career where I can impact twenty little babies everyday. I LOVE MY JOB. It is hard…I’ve had some break downs…but its the best job in the whole entire world. It brings me more joy than I could have ever dreamed.
In accepting this new job, I had to move out of my moms house and all the way to Nashville. I now live in a cute little one bedroom apartment that is literally an 8 minute drive to my school! This apartment feels more like a home than anywhere has in my whole life. I’ve used the word home loosely ever since the World Race because I had so many new homes while on the Race…but I feel at home here because I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be and that is so exciting.
I made a new community for myself. Many people have said that I would/could create a community wherever I go…but moving here I was worried. I feared that I wouldn’t find a community of believers to push me to the cross…I feared I wouldn’t like my coworkers…I feared that I would feel lonely and would just sit at my apartment by myself every night. BOY WAS I WRONG!!
I love my neighbors, I love my coworkers, I love my church friends, I love my community! I actually cried today walking to my car from church today because I was so overwhelmed with the love I have received from my new friends. Like they encourage me so much…I didn’t think I would find a community like the World Race ever again and its kinda true…but this community is so amazing and incredible and life giving and I just can’t help but smile up to heaven and thank God for these people I’ve made my family in just a short month and a half. These people show me everyday the LOVE that the Lord has for me.
I mean it just all hit me today how much the Lord loves me and WANTS to love me. I don’t deserve it but He loves me so much. Thats really what this blog is about. Yes, I wanted to update you on where I am and what I’m doing but really I wanted to share how much joy I have because the Lord loves me so much.
Today at church the message was about unsubscribing from darkness and subscribing to JOY!
If you know me at all you know that JOY is my favorite fruit of the Spirit. Its the one I feel I show the most.
So this mornings message was by far my favorite message I have heard since going to CrossPoint…and they have some good messages! If you want to hear the whole message you can go to CrossPoint.TV but I am going to give you some highlights that really stood out for me.
Joy loves to be caught so chase it. In those moments where you feel like nothing is going right choose to look at the positive…find joy in every situation and circumstance.
Once you chase joy you must then choose it. It may not light up everything in your life but joy always lets off a little light.
Jesus is the CENTER of ALL of my joy.
Jesus died for my joy. The joy is already ours we just have to chase it, choose it, and believe in it.
Y’all its not easy to choose joy sometimes but I have soooo many reasons to choose joy and so do you. Look around and be thankful. Be humble. Be joyful!
Usually fall is not my favorite time of the year. I like to be warm…so I love summer. I just don’t like being cold and fall is just kind of sad for me. At least thats what I used to think. But this year I have a new appreciation for fall. I guess since I didn’t really have fall or winter last year because I was in hot countries I have found some joy in it this year. Fall used to mean that summer and freedom from school and homework was over and now it means that school has started and I get to teach my babies. Fall used to mean that the trees and flowers all die and look sad but now I see the beautiful bright colors and a crispness in the air. Fall used to mean the beginning of being cold until spring but now it means I can finally wear all my soft jackets and curl up under a warm blanket. Nothing has really changed about fall…I am just choosing to look at it through my joyful eyes instead of my dark, negative eyes.
Change your perspective. Look at things in your life with JOY!
I’ll leave you with this verse today…
“…And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Blessings,
Niki
