Tan-lines

Find me @ www.tanlinesOC.wordpress.com

2009-05-09T14:19:00.001-07:00

I moved to Orange County, California and began a new blog!

Check it out!

2009-04-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a part of a ministry team called Impel and the creator is David Lawrence. He's got a great blog that shares relevant and powerful stuff about leadership, ministry, life, and culture.

Here's a link to the latest blog, guest writer Brad Lomenick shares about being young and influential. Yes, it possible to be both. His article sums up everything Impel is about...enjoy!

http://www.impellive.com/

Stirring the Fire

2009-04-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

2 Tim 1:6 "...stir up the gift within you..."

I'm sitting by a very nice fire and working on my computer preparing for my move to California in 2 weeks. (I can't believe its 2 weeks, eek!)

I've grown up with fireplaces and been around them, I've just never used one. my sister or dad always started them and kept them going. As I'm staying in a lovely home of friends, they too like the natural warmth a fire can bring. However, I'm alone in the room and its now become my responsibility to keep it going. Like I said, I've never done this. So I determined to stir it up myself. I found the firewood, put another log on the fire and stoked it. I was so proud of myself. At this point, I've done this like 4 times.

As I was working on it I recalled the verse above and thought about how our walk withe the Lord is the same - we must take the responsibility of keeping the flame stoked and burning. Others can come along and help, but ultimately its our place to do it. Its not the funnest thing, or the easiest, and it takes constant watching. Here in the house I can get busy and look over an notice the fire has gone down, then I must choose to get up and get it going again.

Stoking the flame of our spirit is a choice. Here are a few ideas:

Read from a daily devotional
Listen to some music that reminds you of a time when you were really "hot"
Do somethng that's in your gifting. For me its hospitality or organizing. So I help make dinner and organize ideas.
Volunteer - church, school, anywhere!

Have fun!

Go West, young wo-man!

2009-03-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Things are coming together for me to move to California in a few weeks. I have a friend that lives in the Costs Mesa/Irvine area that has a company and has offered me my choice of two positions and an open start date for when I'm ready. I was also given a great choice list from a local church with housing opportunities. All in one day I had a job and a place to live (prospectively.)

So, as my original plan stated I will be leaving for California on April 22, but this will not be a round-trip, it'll be a one-way relocation.

I'm on the hunt for economical ways to ship my stuff left in FL and ship my car from STL to So.CA. I have a list of estimates for my car, but having a hard time finding companies to ship my stuff in FL. Any suggestions?

I'm so excited for what lies ahead.

Oh...checkout www.tanyaglass.wordpress.com. I started a new blog on government stuff.

So what’s up with Tanya lately?

2009-03-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

I intended this to be a video update but the video files take FOR-EVER to load so I just decided to type this one…

I’ve been gone from Florida for about 2 weeks and with all the transition it feels like months. Oh my!

I am in St. Louis (well to be exact Wright City) staying with the family of a friend until I’m able to secure a job that will allow me to live on my own or with a roommate until I leave for California (more on that below.) Miss Rebecca and her family have been very gracious hosts and have kept me warm, safe, and well fed.  I cooked dinner for us both a few nights ago…I love cooking in her kitchen!

I haven’t stepped away from attending church. I’ve had the awesome privilege of visiting 2 weekend services at Destiny Church, and visited another local church last night called Windsor Crossing. It’s interesting to be a visitor and not a staffer in a church service. It still feels weird to sit through an entire service and not have to take care of something, or just roam around because I can. LOL!

One night a week I attend class in St. Louis. That has been a familiar setting and helps me get to know new people.

My phone acts up in the area where I am (about 40 minutes outside the city) so I have shied away from making lots of phone calls because its difficult to hold a conversation when people only hear about 1/3 of what I say. I just tried talking to a friend and got about 2 minutes into the conversation and heard this..... “You’re breaking up, say that again…” So I just gave up and said we’ll talk later. So annoying.

I decided to start a new blog about government issues. I have a desire to educate people in the area of politics and the system. I believe there are a lot of myths out there and I want to debunk them. I won’t get “right” or “left” on issues, jus explaining the nuts and bolts of the system and the freedoms we have as believers and Americans to participate in that system. So be on the look out for that this week.

On the horizon my plans are to stay in the St. Louis area and help the Impel team develop the ground work for the ministry and a business. We will be going April 22-30 to Irvine/Long Beach, CA to connect with people who will help Impel transition to southern California area. It’ll be a power-packed week of meetings, research, and planning.

I will make the move first to CA in May. The rest of the team will follow throughout the course of the year. So my time in CA in April will also include connecting with a job lead and securing housing.

I thank the Lord everyday for His grace, because without it I’d be curled up in a corner crying and never come out. Let’s just say I don’t do well in major times of change and I’m very proud of myself of how well I’ve handled this one.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragements. I love you tons!!!
Tanya

Changes...

2009-02-21T21:18:00.000-08:00

For everyone reading this I'm sorry if I haven't talked to you yet in person. (thus the reason for my note.) I've tried to talk to as many people as possible but time has not allowed me to do that with everyone. My life has been changing very quickly so its every man for himself!

After you read this, please feel free to contact me via email, phone, etc. If you attend The Gathering Place you will hear Pastor Sam make an announcement tomorrow in 2nd service concerning some changes.

Over the last few months God has been working in my life and preparing me for a major transition. Well the last few weeks have shed light on the shift and this week it has become even clearer. After much prayer and wise counsel I have decided to move away from Florida. On Monday, March 2, I am headed to St. Louis, Missouri. My friend, David Lawrence (www.impellive.com) has started a ministry with the intent of equipping young leaders and starting a church (ImpelChurch.tv) in Southern California (specifically, the Long Beach area.) I am going there to partner as an advisor and implementer of this vision. St. Louis is a transitional setting to prepare for the bigger picture - relocating to the LA area.

I have been getting an education to work with new ministries and get them off the ground and now God has given me an opportunity to do it. At the same time I will be able to travel with my mom as she ministers too. (www.jodyglass.com.) I will continue to work as Pastor Sam Hinn's assistant remotely from St. Louis for the next few months.

In April, the Impel team will be traveling to Irvine, California and scoping the area out to see where God wants us to establish life. I've never been to California so I'm excited to see what God has for me out there. Its a great big world and I'm ready for what's next. I'll keep people updated on everything on FB and this blog.

The Art of Finishing

2009-02-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

God created us to start and to finish. He showed us how to finish and gave us the ability to do it. You can finish what God has given you to start.

Gen 2:2 "...God had finished the work he had been doing..."

Jesus - the Word - showed us how to finish...
Isa. 55:11 "so is My word that comes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

John 4:34 "...to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."

John 17:4 "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work you gave Me to do."

We are intended to finish!
2 Cor 8:11 "Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means."

Eph 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Paul Finished
Phil 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

2 Tim 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..."

Finish strong, finish well.

Finding Nemo

2009-02-06T19:22:00.001-08:00

I'm watching Finding Nemo & getting a valuable lesson out of it - face your fear.

When the dad has a mission (finding Nemo) he is willing to face his greatest fear of the deep ocean. He faces many small fear along the way but is always moving forward out of a greater need to find his son. The need to complete his mission outweighed his fear. Great lesson here to be learned when pursuing God's plan.

When God's purpose for your life outweighs any fear we have of "the great unknown" we can go through anything. Even when facing those fear we may be totally freaked out in the process but we are driven out our desire to accomplish to purpose.

Towards the end the dad gets swallowed by a whale thinking he's about to die. But then lets go and the whale brought him to where he was trying to go. Sometimes when it looks the worst, or the scariest, we are actually one step away from exactly where we are supposed to be.

The Lord said to Joshua right after Moses died and before they entered the Promised Land, "Be strong and courageous..."

God always knows when we are going to need a pep talk - so he gives it to us right before we need it. Is God asking you to be strong and courageous? Trust Him to lead you exactly where you need to be. I know I am.

Rediscovering Me

2009-02-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

I've learned how to stand up for myself and rediscover my worth and value. I hadn't realized how badly I had let it wear away - like waves erode the shore.

It's time to rebuild and plant fresh seeds of destiny and purpose. I must always remind myself that in my quest to encourage others in their destiny, I have one too, and it will come to pass in due time.

Life made simple

2009-01-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today I spent a few hours finishing something I started last Saturday – giving my room a total overhaul in the area of organization. I went through every storage tub, drawer, and file. I threw away a LOT of stuff and reorganized things so I know where things are! I feel so great. I’m getting back to who I am as a person – going back through old photos, journals, and notes – I’m remembering the things I like that I had forgotten about. Getting through the clutter, and getting back to me..t.he real me. I like it. I like me.

Have you forgotten yourself somewhere in the busyness of life? Take time to remember who you are – a God-fashioned work of art!

Time for a Fresh look

2009-01-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm online building a "new look" for myself and I come across this random fact.

Sandra Bullock has the same birthday day as me! (of course she's older) but the same day! crazy!
...side note: I've been compared to Sandra Bullock on several occasions, specifically her roles in Miss Congeneality & Two Weeks Notice)

Look What God is Doing

2009-01-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

There's something to be said about organizing and cleaning As tedious as it can be I look forward to those times when i can dump everything out on the floor and sort through it. I sort in three main piles - keep, give and toss. Mostly things end up in the keep and toss piles. I usually don't have stuff that can be given. Usually things only have sentimental value to me.

Tonight I found some papers I used to hang in my room that had "Look what God is Doing" written on it. Starting from 1995 I documented each time God showed up in my life or in the lives of those around me. It was wonderful to see all the things that have happened and God's faithfulness throughout my life.

It's good to regularly go through stuff, its healthy for the mind and body and soul.

Faith...and planes

2008-12-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world..."

It takes faith to go, whether it's to go to school, go to work, or go into all the world. But faith begins with something inside that says, "YES!" When God asks, "Do you want to do thus and such?" Then you take a step, a leap is more like it.

Mark 16 goes on to say this, "...and the Lord worked with them." I have never read that verse before (or paid attention to it) until Friday. When God says go, He goes with us.

So if you've ever seen someone jump out of a plane for the first time they are strapped to someone. It's called tandem. A person is not told to jump out of a plane on their own, they are given a professional to guide them.

So when God asks if you want to go, just say yes and know that He's a pro and will be right there the whole adventure through!!! He has already been there and He is inviting us share in the adventure...

The world is my playground...

2008-12-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

So I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. It's one of those days I just want to stay in bed and think myself into oblivion...it's safer that way right? NOPE! But I'm on vacation, I don't have to be active - right? WRONG! Inactivity sets us up for failure (King David took a vacation from the war and that's when he saw Bathsheba...need I go on...) Rest is good, and necessary, but even in rest I can meditate on good things.

The Lord reminds me of this verse, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Phil 4:8

I can't be afraid of what is waiting for me when I get up. I know that something (and someone) big awaits me and as excited as I am to get there, I'm terrified too (this is where I get choked up and stop myself from crying.) All the "what if" questions hit my mind and I want to hide...ere go stay in bed. But I prayed for a few minutes before getting up and took care of some distracting negative thoughts, then I got some coffee and opened my computer to check my emails...

As I was reading another friend's blog (davidlawrencelive.wordpress.com) the most freeing thought came to me - "The World is my Playground, and it's Time to Get Moving!"

So as I meditate on pure, noble, and lovely things, I will get out of bed each day with the hope that I am moving forward, and face the world that is my playgorund.

Oxygen and tears....

2008-12-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Well today one of the best friend's I've ever had moved to St. Louis. Tears of sadness and loss, and yet tears of joy and great hope. Because what lies ahead is SO FAR greater than what lies behind.

If you get the chance to have really good friends...fight to keep them. Fight. Say what you need to say to be open, vulnerable, confrontational, and true.

Other than family, I've never known loyalty in a friend until now. I know what "tough love" means and go through life to come out on the other side even better friends. I know what a real friendship looks like and my life will never be the same.

"fan into flame the gift within you." 2 Tim 1:6

Flames need oxygen. In our lives we can give so much to others and see our flame dim sometimes, but people who are life-giving friends will breathe oxygen into that flame and cause it to grow.

To all my life-giving friends, thank you ...

fresh quote....life motto

2008-12-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

"I've simply decided that it is better to launch people than lose them." (Next Generation Leader)
Andy Stanley, Pastor
Northpoint Church

Hope Fulfilled

2008-11-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

This is a season of Hope Fulfilled. I am in awe of how amazingly wonderful the Lord is to us. He is faithful and gracious. People in my life are approaching their fulfillment or have had their hope fulfilled. New doors of opportunity. Strategic alignments. Each person had prayer before the Lord, and being that it was God's desire in the first place, the pieces are coming together. My thoughts......

My Hope lingers

A glimpse of fulfillment

I wait patiently

Press forward

Moments of impatience

Give way to trust

As I wait

And keep moving forward

Disturb Me!

2008-11-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Last year at Catalyst Conference (catalystspace.com) I listened to Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv, speak about two very dangerous words: Disturb Me! It was a prayer of his heart to God to shake him from his current state of complacency and apathy. I knew these words were dangerous and at that time could not bring myself to truly mean them for my life. I knew the weight of that prayer. But these last few days the Lord has reminded of his words and they have now become my prayer.

I happened to be reading Acts 19 and came across this verse and it struck me with such conviction..... verse 23 says this: "...there arose a great disturbance about the Way."

The chapter is about Paul's ministry in Ephesus and this "disturbance" was the result of two years of discipling and adding people to the Kingdom. He put two major trade industries out of business - the equivalent to tens of millions of dollars! I love it!

My point is this - Disturbed people create disturbances.

"Disturb me O God that I may disturb what is around me."

The Fear of Disappointment

2008-10-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Over the last week I noticed a change in my behavior, and not in a good way. I would get angry out of no where and want to scream. It was totally out of character and sometimes I would be around people who would get the brunt of my anger and later I would have to go & ask their forgiveness. I knew something was worng and it needed to be dealt with - and quick! I have been seeking the Lord and asking Him to show me where this anger is coming from and let's get it out! I sensed it was a something I had let in and had taken root somewhere along the way and was now showing its ugly head.

Tonight as I was spending time with the Lord I felt the Holy Spirit quietly say to my heart, "disappointment the fear of disappointment." I knew immediately that was it and tears came to my eyes as I knew it was time to release that fear. I felt so much peace and freedom once I prayed and declared the Word that the Lord is my Hope and all my Hope is in Him. I kept saying, "I believe You!" I felt the Lord ask me, "Do you think I can do this?" I kept on smiling an saying, "I believe You. My hope is in You"

I was reminded of a Psalm and a song...it goes like this
My hope is in the Name of the Lord
Where my help comes from
You're my strength my song
My Trust is in the Name of Lord
Where my help comes from
You are faithful

Its from the Hope album by Hillsong. It so refreshed my heart and I knew I was finally free.

So what's next....what else is ahead? As I surrender to Him I trust that what the Lord has planned for my life shall come to pass and I must believe Eph 3:20 (which was my devo reading today)

I choose to believe

2008-10-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

"Create in me a clean, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

David spoke these words in Psalms and I remember singing them in a song growing up in church. This is my prayer today. I want to hold on to faith, hope and love. I want to fight for what is right and stand up to what is wrong even in the midst of unpopularity. I want to see God’s plan for my life come to pass, and be used without hesitation and without regret. I will fight for what I know God has promised in His word. I have come to a place of brokenness again and must become transparent. Others see my flaws and quickly point them out for the sake of helping others. I must remain in love and choose rightly.

Am I wrong to hope, to dream, to want something I can’t see? Shall I be corrected as Sarah was and laugh at God’s promise only to delay it because of my disbelief? I say NO! I believe. I choose to have faith and remain in hope and love. Love, in 1 Cor 13, gives up its right to its own way. I can’t be selfish; I must give unconditionally, and love whole-heartedly. I must forgive and forge ahead. I must ask for forgiveness – quickly – of those I have wronged unknowingly.

I want to take time to do some fasting. I need to remain aligned & be sensitive to the changes God wants to make in my heart and life. So...yet another phase of change lies ahead, I'm nervous and excited. Oh how I "love" change....total sarcastic point I just made.

Recognition

2008-10-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

I want to take some time to recognize...

I am a healed girl - even of things I didn't realize until after the Lord changed me.
I have stopped trying to control certain areas of my life.
I am free.
I have the ability to love people more than I ever have before.
The faithfulness of God to restore.
I must stay leaning forward into what God has for me.
I have something of value to contribute to my family, my friends, my church and my future.
I am very blessed.

Power of Agreement

2008-10-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

There is something unique about agreeing with someone or something. I've been going through a Bible study with some friends and we've been disecting Matthew. I noticed in the first chapter that Jesus came from the line of Joseph, not Mary. That's when it hit me, when Mary agreed to marry Joseph that decision aligned her under Joseph's lineage (placed her under his authority and covering) and thereby enabled her to be filled with the Holy Spirit and bear Jesus Christ.

I had to questions: Could it be that God put in Joseph's heart to chose Mary because that's who He wanted to use, or would God have used anyone that Jospeh chose to marry because of his desire to please God and his destined lineage? Did God give Joseph the use of freewill to chose whomever he desired or was there a model image built inside of Joseph that caused him to only see Mary?

Mary didn't just agree to a marriage in the natural, she was agreeing to receive from God something supernatual. "Be it unto me according to thy word."

Accounting

2008-09-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

started a new class tonight - principles of accounting. my instructor is a very passionate spanish guy who really loves being an accountant....he went for 3.5 hours and only gave us 1 15-minute break. whew! i think im going to really like this class, but its going to take a lot of work. but i guess if im going to consult the world's churches...im going to need to completely understand accounting...LOL. so watch out..here i come!

Crazy little thing called L-O-V-E

2008-09-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

I found this in the back of my Bible. I remember writing it in a time with the Lord in one of my favorite spots - the front porch of my grandparents house. I wrote this about 3-4 years ago, but it still rings true with me today...in a fresh way.

Psalms 40 and 1 Corinthians 13...Love is FIRST patient, not idle.

Love is patient. Patience is having joy in waiting. You must have hope in something to know what your waiting for and faith to inspire hope. Hope is the vision + expectation of what faith says is possible. Love is patient - so patience (full of joy) give you strength (Neh 8:10) to stand and wait... expecting and knowing and going ahead. While waiting, you continue to serve - be a waiter. Have joy in the Lord - delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4.)

Faith without works is dead. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Love is action.
Faith + Hope+ Love = victorious, purpose-fulled life.
Love is the accomplisher - if you love me, obey (John 14:15)
The Church of Ephesus needed to return to its first love (Rev 2)
Love acts in wisdom - James 2 and 3.
My life is not my own (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Play offensive with fears!

2008-09-13T19:41:00.001-07:00

Well lately I've been faced with fears left and right, and I'm growing as a result. My mind creates imaginations and I begin to feel afraid. But then one day I decided to push back - and piss off that part of me that was afraid by doing the very thing I was afraid to do. Each time I did that, I felt empowered. For example, there are times i dont want to enter a room full of people (mostly my friends) because I think i wont be welcomed or wanted or that i'll make things worse by being there.....my head creates all kinds of aweful scenarios and i get panicky. I just want to run away and hide. Well the last few weeks I've been looking that fear in the face and telling it to piss off! That kind of fear is not welcome in my life. I walk right into the room and force myself to have a great time. And in the end it was all in my head. Sometimes I have to go to the Lord in prayer and say, "I'm totally nervous and I really need You." God always speaks to my heart and stengthens me and gives me the TRUTH. The TRUTH sets us free. Living in the light, and walking in the light together (1 John 1:7.) We walk with Christ and in HIM all things are possible. Playing offensively with fear is victory and growth.

Engage Me

2008-09-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

At InFlux on Thursday night, there was something brewing in the air, it was awesome. During the worship the Lord begin to speak to me in pictures and talk to me about how He sees the generation of young adults - my generation. I saw people randomly spread out sitting alone on couches, chairs, church chairs, and then bleachers at a sports event. The Lord begin to pull on them and say "Engage Me." The people I saw were completely disconnected and discontent. They had "checked out." But God was pulling them, encouraging them to come "play on His field." I asked about what causes someoneto just sit there and watch other people - He spoke to my heart and said, "they've been told they don't belong there." I began to cry and my heart leaped as I knew that I had to share this with the group. The verse that came to my mind was Hebrews 10:35, "For we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved." As I began to share this with the crowd I was impressed to say, "Engage Me, come play on My team, I've created you, I've created you with a purpose, I've created you with a position to play on My team. Come with Me and know how to push back the enemy instead of being pushed around by him. Know what it is to have victory in every area of your life."