Personal Narrative: Space For Grace

I see language as a huge blessing. When utilized properly, it can encourage, teach, and help others. It can also be used to express ourselves to our core. To be able to reflect what is within our hearts, though, we must dive deep into emotions and language. Paired, they allow us to understand one another so that we can communicate and help each other through life, something that is definitely not meant to be done alone—which exactly explains why God gave us all community. With life being like an ocean, I truly believe that we cannot survive without God, first of all, and also without people. Because they are so important to me, I place emphasis on understanding how to properly use the English language so that I may glorify God, showing my thanks to Him with my every sentence whether it is verbal or written or thought. This portfolio, thus, is a reflection of my identity and journey with God—all constructed with language and emotions to portray my love for communicating with Him and His people. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable inyour sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14After being rescued by Him, I gained sight. I no longer saw the things around me and within me with a blurry lens; I took on the clearest lens, as though my eyes became cameras, to see things with truth. With this new vision and mindset, I began to see my own mistakes as well as those around me. Because of this, I understood what needed revision and what

As I finished reading the first three chapters of Courageous Faith, I found myself to be most identified with Abraham. The beginning of new things is hard and challenging, and it takes great faith and courage for a person to make a decision that can change his whole life. This was what happened with Abram. God told him to leave behind his whole world to move to Canaan. He had to face new and unfamiliar people and environment, but he believed in God and follow His will. Throughout my life, I have met with changes throughout the years. From elementary to high school, I always go to a school far away from the previous with new environment, and all the people there already know each other and are friends. Then I study abroad in the States, this

This past year, I have been apart of Naperville Central’s brand new Special Spaces club. When my friend approached me and asked me to join, I agreed even though I had no clue what I was involving myself in. In retrospective, I can honestly say that becoming a part of Special Spaces has been one of the most meaningful, fun, and fulfilling experiences I have had in high school.

“Good evening”, Cameron Joy Gaspord said to Resident A as she delivers their freshest made dinner to them.  This is a part of Cameron’s job; however, to Cameron, it is far more than a job. Cameron’s first day at Grace Point, over a year and a half ago, she was unsure of her job. Now a year and a half later Cameron knows every tiny detail from the seating chart to all the residents' names. Due to state laws, Cameron is not allowed to share the name of residents or any health complication.

This week Grace and I taught one day and during our time teaching I had a great time. We tried the dances this week and personally I liked the dancing better than the other warm ups we have done. I feel with the dancing everyone gets more involved and they just be themselves because everyone is dancing and just having fun. I think this week stuck out the most to me so far out of all of the weeks becuase Grace, Bailey, Ella, and I went around the stations together and while we were going around Grace and I were just having fun and hanging out. But what really stuck out and meant alot to me was when Joanne came and told me that I was doing a good job with Ella, it was just a little thing that really stuck out to me.

As I thought about seeing Grace for the first time in a while, my stomach starts to hurt. I’m staring out the window to see a sign saying, “HOME OF THE LOUISIANA CARDINALS” and I know we’re there. I hear my mom say “Finally, we’re here,” as she ripped off her seatbelt. She starts to yell at my brother as he’s opening the door before we come to a complete stop. As I turn to look out the window again, I’m the first person to see Grace. She was leaning up against the fence with a couple of her teammates. Without saying another word I rip off my seatbelt and fly open the door. I shut the door quietly so she wouldn’t notice we were there and waited impatiently for everyone else to get out of the car.

My Spiritual journey has the themes of tragedy and God’s reaffirming presences in my life. I help individuals in my ministry and context to remember, reassure, and/or inform that God is still with them either through spoken word, presences or other art forms during heartbreak.

am beset {long pause} How long will I let the pain and loss define my life? An enduring struggle of loss and gain A monumental achievement through the tangles of deeds But is left alone with silent words

Growing up with a father in the military, you move around a lot more than you would like to. I was born just east of St. Louis in a city called Shiloh in Illinois. When I was two years old my dad got the assignment to move to Hawaii. We spent seven great years in Hawaii, we had one of the greatest churches I have ever been to name New Hope. New Hope was a lot like Olivet's atmosphere, the people were always friendly and there always something to keep someone busy. I used to dance at church, I did hip-hop and interpretive dance, but you could never tell that from the way I look now.

The part about youth group that I am the most insecure about is going to the community mealtime before TIC. I confess, I’m not the most socially confident person. It seems like all of the other youth group sponsors eat with their family members. I thought about inviting friends to come with me, but then I would spend more time talking with them and less time ministering with students. But when I go alone, I never know who is going to be there or where I am going to fit in. Bucking up the courage, I found a mother with a toddler and two little girls I had never met before. I had hit it off well with them, but I noticed out of the corner of my eye that one of my own eighth grade student had sat down at a table all by herself. I felt

I’m not exactly sure what I feel at the moment but lying here in my room, utterly alone, I’ve given it some thought and I’ve decided to begin my transition from the stage of grief to experiencing a cleansing. It’s time for a new me. Too long have I sat here in this cold, empty room, drowning in my tears. Too exhausted to function. Dark rings surrounding my eyes and hair resembling someone who’d been dragged through a bush. I refuse to spend any more days in self pity. Arising is arduous but somehow I manage to unravel myself out of the cocoon I had created. Feeling my toes sinking into the feather-soft carpet as I take the first steps as the newly found Evelyn, over towards the curtain. The velvet fabric compliments my skin as I gently tug and they inch open. Suddenly light floods in, filling the room, illuminating lost objects. Dust fills my nostrils as all my little nik-naks come to life. Slipping down my worn in sweats to change into something more presentable, a rush of warmth overcomes me. For the first time in months, to make myself breakfast, I shall go further than the bathroom.

Why ? Why,why,Why !?! I always get caught up in things but this one really takes the cake. Ha... life has a funny way of giving you what you deserve. I was given a power, a chance to play god. That chance gave me so much regret, guilt, and most importantly loss.

My journey with God started in February of 1993, when I went to a ladies’ conference in Columbus, Texas. It was while the speaker was explaining that she knew there were some of us out in the audience, who felt guilty about something they had done in their past, and they did not feel that God could forgive them for it. But then she quoted from God’s word; “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, not principalities, no things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39 NASB) The speaker continued on to say that all we need to do is

I don't have anything to say really, I can't bring myself to forgive either you guys or me. I'm overreacting, I know that, you know that, but I have this kind of feeling that I shouldn't quite forgive any of us yet. But, in order for me to get to that point, we need to have a discussion in this group chat, preferably all at the same time, but separate times can work if needed. This sounds weird to me, like you're all crawling and begging for mercy in front of a king, like my forgiveness is valuable and an earned thing and it's not. It should not be an endeavor. Most of this is blame on me, I'm stubborn, like really obstinate. I kind of feel like we're drifting apart. And by that I mean, I'm veering away from the 4 of you as a group. I mean, I'm not even supposed to be

I was baptized as a Methodist Christian at six months old and have been to Sunday school classes, bible studies and youth group for as long as I can remember. Our church has a contemporary choir that anyone ages sixteen and older can join. When I was younger, I loved going to “big church” (what I used to call the sanctuary) and listen to the cool music every week. Once I turned sixteen, I was determined to be in the choir. However, I was hesitant because upon joining, I would be by far the youngest person in the ensemble. Before I came along, the youngest person in the ensemble was 28 years old. It was cumbersome at first because everyone was talking about their children and work lives and I had nothing to offer in the conversation due to my age. I felt awkward in those situations and would keep to myself, not speaking in fear of saying something foolish or irrelevant. However, I loved the music and performing so much that I would not let my age get in the way of doing what I wanted. I started to get out of my comfort zone and involved myself in the conversations they had. The more I engaged in discussion, the more comfortable I felt with the people around