An Apprenticeship with Christ

Every year Campus Christian Fellowship goes to Evansville, Indiana for the National Student Conference. I haven't gone in two years, because I was still doing Summershine last summer when they left. This year I didn't know if I could afford it, and what things would be in my way, so I didn't sign up for it, but yesterday I decided to go! Two days before we leave I decided I was going. I am so excited. God has been tugging at my heart all summer with things He has in store for me, and this is just another thing for me to continue growing and learning in the word. I'm excited for this conference. It's an opportunity to get together with other ministries from across the country and hear the anticipations they have for the school year. It's a time to learn how to be prepared to be a leader not only in your campus ministry, but on campus. It's a time of worship, of scripture, and of hearing God's voice in where He has you for the school year. So hear's to a 10 hour drive (over two days) to Evansville, IN...5 days and 4 nights in USI's dorm rooms....and a straight 10+ hour drive back. All to learn about God's plans as His disciples in the 21st century. Shalom!

Coffee with Jesus

This is exactly what my summer has looked like. Coffee, my journal, and my Lord. More like, Chai Tea...but regardless, my summer has been spent sitting in a coffee shop almost every day for hours on end listening to the voice of the Lord. O how beautiful His voice is. How wonderful it feels to know that truth comes from hearing His voice. Almost 7 weeks ago I came home wondering what in the world the God was doing in my life. I still have no idea, but I'm closer to an understanding of His will in my life. There were points this summer where He spoke and I didn't hear Him. There were points where it was a whisper into my life. And then there were points where the Lord literally SHOUTED words of wisdom and truth. I started Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" nearly 5 weeks ago and it has been a journey like no other. I have learned what it means to be obedient to the God of the Universe. My maker. My best friend. He has shown me the obstacles in my life that I have had to break through. The boulders in the road to my Journey with Him. O how beautiful our God is. I'm almost finished with the breaking free bible study, and it has truly been wonderful. Each time I sit down with my Bible and my Journal and it is a breath of fresh air. The verses that God showed Beth Moore, to show the reader who is struggling through life, are perfect. They are clear to what it means to literally break free from the obstacles in one's life. I will be sad when this study is over, but I am excited to continue my regimen of Coffee with my Lord. Just because a Bible study ends does not mean my journey with the Lord ends. It's a daily journey, and it's beautiful.
The Lord is continuing to show me what it means to give Him complete control. Once again my plans have been altered. I thought I was going to make an A in my summer class and be starting into Upper Division this school year. Unfortunately I made a B, and Upper Division is put on hold again. I literally was furious when I found out  my grade. Then God calmed me down, spoke into my life, and said "I know what I am doing, so stop trying to plan your life". Who wants to spend six years in undergraduate school? Well no one, but apparently God has me in school that long, and for a reason. And I'm actually excited to see what God has in store. I am excited to see who it is He has me to meet, or what it is he has me doing. I am frustrated and I would like to be going somewhere else and starting the next step in my life, but He has different plans. His will in my life is quite different from the time-line I started with. The world gives us a time-line, and God breaks it apart.
I truly have no idea what God is doing in my life and where He is going to lead me. I only know that I have to give Him the steering wheel. I don't always LIKE what's going on in my life...but that's why HE is in ultimate control. Not me.

My Girl is THREE

Three years ago THIS little beauty entered the world:

Today we celebrated the three wild, crazy, yet FUN years we have spent with her =) And the years that we will, God willing, have to come.

She was the first niece for me. I have another beautiful niece who we will celebrate HER 3rd birthday in a few  weeks. This is the first time I have been home for Ava's birthday. I'm always out of state. I was so excited to finally be home, and to finally have a special day with her =). Friday we had our first ever special birthday day. 

It was so precious to finally take this beautiful niece of mine out for a day that was all about her. I do it with my nephew every year, and after missing 2 birthdays I was finally blessed enough to spend time with miss Ava Claire. She is the Diva of the 3 grand children. She is spoiled rotten, she has an attitude, but she is sweet and absolutely previous. Just another reason why God brought me home from South Dakota...I finally got a day with my sweet niece for her birthday =)

A few more weeks and I'll get a special day with my other niece, miss Sarah Anne =)