So today has already been long...and I haven't even gotten to South Dakota. God is definitely teaching patience. I am sitting in the Chicago airport right now with 2 hours to go before I board for Denver. Then from Denver we will finally make our descent into Rapid City.
I can not believe the day is finally here that I am on my way to South Dakota. I found out two months ago that I would be going.
We were supposed to leave at 12:15 this afternoon for Chicago but due to Technical difficulties we didn't leave until 2:15...we had to change our flight from Chicago to Denver and from Denver to Rapid City. God is definitely already working on the patience...but in the midst of it we will now arrive with the rest of our staff (if all goes as planned with their flights) and it is giving Mike and Kathryn more time before having to go to the airport. I am not sure what tomorrow looks like, but I am excited to finally start this journey with my savior over 1000 miles away in South Dakota.
I am excited for what He will teach us. For what He will show us. For who He will introduce us to and how he will give us opportunities to share His word. Truly God is amazing. Truly He is sovereign and in the midst of everything He will always reign.
The start to a summer worth living =)
May 24, 2010
May 08, 2010
What is Jesus doing?
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
Wow...I have gone through a plethora of emotions over the past few days. I've been fighting the urge to be angry, upset, and have tried hard to remember my God is in charge.
I have worked really hard this school year to make sure I have the GPA necessary to finally get into Upper Division. I had two classes online and 3 on campus this semester and I made sure I went to every class (unless I was sick), and I made sure I did every assignment. I especially did my best to keep up with my online classes and do my best there. One class I really expected to have a B in and I discovered I made a D...talk about shock! I was devastated. I started to truly freak out because with a D that means I really had to have an A in another class in order to get my GPA...well the class I thought I had an A in ended up being a B...once again shock...I've been praying and pleading to have an A in at least ONE class. Sometimes God has other answers to our prayers though, and after all of my grades have been posted I did not make an A in any classes, and I ended up making lower in a few classes than I expected.
I could continue to go through the plethora of emotions. I could get angry. However I came to a realization today that my emotions are coming from a fear that is unnecessary in my life. I have been striving to please my Mom in school...and even though I realize I am to honor my parents it is not them that I am supposed to please. It is my heavenly Father. My parents are not paying for me to go to school. My parents did not go to college. And as much as I know they want me to be finished and moving on to a career, I can only go on the timeline that God has planned for me. For some reason I am not where I should be in school right now, and I could get upset...but instead I will accept what God is giving me.
He has a plan. I have a fear that my Mom will get upset, will yell, will tell me she's disappointed...but ultimately her opinion does not matter. What I am doing for God matters.
I have sent an email to my advisor in the hopes to get special permission to get into an Upper Division class this coming semester, so I can still start my senior one in the spring and still graduate fall of next year (2011)...That is my prayer and my hope and I will continue to pray. But once again I realize even though I pray this, God may not have that same plan. I don't really know what His plan is. I don't know what Jesus is doing. I do know that He's going to continue to grow me and teach me to rely on Him for things in my life.
I am 16 days away from being in South Dakota with a new Summershine family and I am overwhelmed with excitement to see how God works this summer. The Mt. Rushmore KOA is still in the beginning stages of Summershine. We are still building the summershine foundation and I can't wait to see what we do this summer and what God does in showing the true name of Summershine. I am spending the next two weeks continuiing to cover myself in the dust of my Rabbi...I am excited, overwhelmed, and OVERJOYED with the things God continues to do in my life. Jesus is doing wonderful things...and I love my Jesus.
Wow...I have gone through a plethora of emotions over the past few days. I've been fighting the urge to be angry, upset, and have tried hard to remember my God is in charge.
I have worked really hard this school year to make sure I have the GPA necessary to finally get into Upper Division. I had two classes online and 3 on campus this semester and I made sure I went to every class (unless I was sick), and I made sure I did every assignment. I especially did my best to keep up with my online classes and do my best there. One class I really expected to have a B in and I discovered I made a D...talk about shock! I was devastated. I started to truly freak out because with a D that means I really had to have an A in another class in order to get my GPA...well the class I thought I had an A in ended up being a B...once again shock...I've been praying and pleading to have an A in at least ONE class. Sometimes God has other answers to our prayers though, and after all of my grades have been posted I did not make an A in any classes, and I ended up making lower in a few classes than I expected.
I could continue to go through the plethora of emotions. I could get angry. However I came to a realization today that my emotions are coming from a fear that is unnecessary in my life. I have been striving to please my Mom in school...and even though I realize I am to honor my parents it is not them that I am supposed to please. It is my heavenly Father. My parents are not paying for me to go to school. My parents did not go to college. And as much as I know they want me to be finished and moving on to a career, I can only go on the timeline that God has planned for me. For some reason I am not where I should be in school right now, and I could get upset...but instead I will accept what God is giving me.
He has a plan. I have a fear that my Mom will get upset, will yell, will tell me she's disappointed...but ultimately her opinion does not matter. What I am doing for God matters.
I have sent an email to my advisor in the hopes to get special permission to get into an Upper Division class this coming semester, so I can still start my senior one in the spring and still graduate fall of next year (2011)...That is my prayer and my hope and I will continue to pray. But once again I realize even though I pray this, God may not have that same plan. I don't really know what His plan is. I don't know what Jesus is doing. I do know that He's going to continue to grow me and teach me to rely on Him for things in my life.
I am 16 days away from being in South Dakota with a new Summershine family and I am overwhelmed with excitement to see how God works this summer. The Mt. Rushmore KOA is still in the beginning stages of Summershine. We are still building the summershine foundation and I can't wait to see what we do this summer and what God does in showing the true name of Summershine. I am spending the next two weeks continuiing to cover myself in the dust of my Rabbi...I am excited, overwhelmed, and OVERJOYED with the things God continues to do in my life. Jesus is doing wonderful things...and I love my Jesus.
April 25, 2010
Cutting myself Off
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes"~ John 15:2
I have already stated that this summer I am going to Mt. Rushmore, SD to do Summershine. I've spent a lot of time lately praying and thinking on what I can do as my short term goal while in SD. I know that God has me in Mt. Rushmore for a reason. I was terrified at first, and a little disappointed that I wasn't going to be closer to home, but recently it has hit me that this is a grand opportunity for me to truly get to know God on a deeper level.
I will be far away from anything that has hindered me for the past year. I will be away from the distractions in my life, and I will be in the middle of God's beauty.
In order to really grow in God and to truly be completely there I want to really cut myself off from the world I am constantly surrounded by. In doing so I think this will really strengthen my relationship with God and really allow me to build relationships with the people I will be living with.
It has been a hard choice but I think the best thing for me this summer will be for me to keep my phone off almost 24/7. Meaning I may turn it on for a couple of hours on my DAY off but I will not keep it on. I want to be completely in South Dakota. I don't want to be partly still in NC where my family is. Also, I will not be getting on facebook. I will blog, and I will update my blog with a picture or two, but I will not be distracted by the outside world.
In doing so I know this will be a summer of growing, learning, and pruning.
I have already stated that this summer I am going to Mt. Rushmore, SD to do Summershine. I've spent a lot of time lately praying and thinking on what I can do as my short term goal while in SD. I know that God has me in Mt. Rushmore for a reason. I was terrified at first, and a little disappointed that I wasn't going to be closer to home, but recently it has hit me that this is a grand opportunity for me to truly get to know God on a deeper level.
I will be far away from anything that has hindered me for the past year. I will be away from the distractions in my life, and I will be in the middle of God's beauty.
In order to really grow in God and to truly be completely there I want to really cut myself off from the world I am constantly surrounded by. In doing so I think this will really strengthen my relationship with God and really allow me to build relationships with the people I will be living with.
It has been a hard choice but I think the best thing for me this summer will be for me to keep my phone off almost 24/7. Meaning I may turn it on for a couple of hours on my DAY off but I will not keep it on. I want to be completely in South Dakota. I don't want to be partly still in NC where my family is. Also, I will not be getting on facebook. I will blog, and I will update my blog with a picture or two, but I will not be distracted by the outside world.
In doing so I know this will be a summer of growing, learning, and pruning.
April 07, 2010
My God is POWERFUL
I can not believe it is already April. Not only is it already April...we're heading to the 2nd full week of April. Time is flying by. When I was little, I always thought time went by SO SLOW and now it seems to be going by before I can really get a grasp on what is going on.
Things have been interesting lately. I found out who my Activities Director and the Assistant Activities Director are this summer in SD. One of them I know and am very excited to be working with. The other I am excited to get to know.
Since finding out where I am this summer, I have felt led to really prepare myself for what God has in store. I started my first Daniel fast which has been going absolutely amazing. I have not desired any foods that are not okay in this fast...and I feel strengthened through my Father.
The past few nights though I have been spiritually battleing with the Devil. He knows I am working to make myself prepared for my journey this summer, and God is fully working in my life...but through fasting and prayer a person becomes more vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
I have to say I didn't know if I wanted to truly post this...but after really praying I feel like it is a story to God's power. The past couple of nights I could literally feel Satan in my bedroom. Last night I was terrified to turn the lights out and go to bed...Satan was truly trying to attack me and take away my joy. His prescense was more than prevalent. I realized this fear I was feeling was not of God at all...and THANKFULLY I have an amazing friend and sister in Christ who prayed with me at 1:00 this morning that the devil would flee. He most certainly did. He was rebuked in the name of the Lord!
My God is powerful. He is mighty. He will always overcome ANY force out there because He is the one true God. No one is greater.
In the midst of this spiritual warfare I was scared and I was being fed this lie...but God overcame, as He always does, and as He always will. Where the spirit is, the Devil can not live.
I am so excited for the summer ahead. Our orientation is next weekend and I am excited to see how God strengthens each staff in preparing us for the summer. I can not wait to see what God has in store for each of us INDIVIDUALLY. There are so many things to be excited about. There are two weeks of classes left. My last exam is April 29th, and then I am going home to spend a few weeks with my family before I head out to serve God in South Dakota.
Truly we serve an amazing God. He will always overcome. He has great plans. He IS Great and I am proud to serve the God who loves me, and RESCUES ME from everything.
"Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword." Psalm 17:13
Things have been interesting lately. I found out who my Activities Director and the Assistant Activities Director are this summer in SD. One of them I know and am very excited to be working with. The other I am excited to get to know.
Since finding out where I am this summer, I have felt led to really prepare myself for what God has in store. I started my first Daniel fast which has been going absolutely amazing. I have not desired any foods that are not okay in this fast...and I feel strengthened through my Father.
The past few nights though I have been spiritually battleing with the Devil. He knows I am working to make myself prepared for my journey this summer, and God is fully working in my life...but through fasting and prayer a person becomes more vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
I have to say I didn't know if I wanted to truly post this...but after really praying I feel like it is a story to God's power. The past couple of nights I could literally feel Satan in my bedroom. Last night I was terrified to turn the lights out and go to bed...Satan was truly trying to attack me and take away my joy. His prescense was more than prevalent. I realized this fear I was feeling was not of God at all...and THANKFULLY I have an amazing friend and sister in Christ who prayed with me at 1:00 this morning that the devil would flee. He most certainly did. He was rebuked in the name of the Lord!
My God is powerful. He is mighty. He will always overcome ANY force out there because He is the one true God. No one is greater.
In the midst of this spiritual warfare I was scared and I was being fed this lie...but God overcame, as He always does, and as He always will. Where the spirit is, the Devil can not live.
I am so excited for the summer ahead. Our orientation is next weekend and I am excited to see how God strengthens each staff in preparing us for the summer. I can not wait to see what God has in store for each of us INDIVIDUALLY. There are so many things to be excited about. There are two weeks of classes left. My last exam is April 29th, and then I am going home to spend a few weeks with my family before I head out to serve God in South Dakota.
Truly we serve an amazing God. He will always overcome. He has great plans. He IS Great and I am proud to serve the God who loves me, and RESCUES ME from everything.
"Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword." Psalm 17:13
March 27, 2010
God is leading...in control...in charge
It's been an interesting semester...an interesting journey through where God has been leading.
When I started college four years ago I had this dream to be finished in four years. In other words...I should be graduating next month.
Wrong.
God had other plans. Plain and simple. Or maybe not so plain and simple.
I didn't do what I needed to do my freshman year. I wanted to have fun. I never got drunk. I never partied. But I wanted to hang out and enjoy my friendships. That unfortunately hurt me.
I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.
God, however, has a great plan.
I found out a couple of weeks ago that I am here for another year and a half. I won't be starting my internship until next spring.
That at first was hard to hear, but God really placed a peace over me and said "I know what I am doing! Give ME control!"...I now realize no matter how frustrating it may seem...God is in complete control.
This summer I had a plan of being in Williamsburg again.
Once again He has other plans.
Instead of sending me 2 1/2 hours away to my comfort zone...
He's sending me over a thousand miles away to Mt. Rushmore South Dakota.
Three months in the glory of God's creation.
Three months serving God in the mid-west...seeing his beautiful creation ALL AROUND ME and meeting people I may not otherwise encounter.
I'm ecstatic. I have this grand opportunity to go and serve God in a place I never would have thought of going.
My life is His.
My future is His.
I have absolutely NO IDEA where He has me in 5 years...10 years..NEXT year...I only know that where ever He leads I have to follow. He is the God of the universe. He created me. He created all of us and His plans are far greater and way more important than anything else.
The world tells me to finish school in four years...and to think clearly...and to do what the world would do on the worlds time line...God tells me otherwise.
How great is God how BEAUTIFUL is his call.
How EXCITING is His plan!
When I started college four years ago I had this dream to be finished in four years. In other words...I should be graduating next month.
Wrong.
God had other plans. Plain and simple. Or maybe not so plain and simple.
I didn't do what I needed to do my freshman year. I wanted to have fun. I never got drunk. I never partied. But I wanted to hang out and enjoy my friendships. That unfortunately hurt me.
I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.
God, however, has a great plan.
I found out a couple of weeks ago that I am here for another year and a half. I won't be starting my internship until next spring.
That at first was hard to hear, but God really placed a peace over me and said "I know what I am doing! Give ME control!"...I now realize no matter how frustrating it may seem...God is in complete control.
This summer I had a plan of being in Williamsburg again.
Once again He has other plans.
Instead of sending me 2 1/2 hours away to my comfort zone...
He's sending me over a thousand miles away to Mt. Rushmore South Dakota.
Three months in the glory of God's creation.
Three months serving God in the mid-west...seeing his beautiful creation ALL AROUND ME and meeting people I may not otherwise encounter.
I'm ecstatic. I have this grand opportunity to go and serve God in a place I never would have thought of going.
My life is His.
My future is His.
I have absolutely NO IDEA where He has me in 5 years...10 years..NEXT year...I only know that where ever He leads I have to follow. He is the God of the universe. He created me. He created all of us and His plans are far greater and way more important than anything else.
The world tells me to finish school in four years...and to think clearly...and to do what the world would do on the worlds time line...God tells me otherwise.
How great is God how BEAUTIFUL is his call.
How EXCITING is His plan!
February 13, 2010
We are the World
I just saw the re-make for "We are the world" for Haiti...It was so awesome to see these musical artists joined together, singing a song, and all for the purpose of joining together to help Haiti.
Not only are they the world.
Not only are WE the world.
We are God's people.
This isn't a Christian song, but it could be.
We ARE the World sent out by Christ...We are his people to go to all nations.
Beautiful.
There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Not only are they the world.
Not only are WE the world.
We are God's people.
This isn't a Christian song, but it could be.
We ARE the World sent out by Christ...We are his people to go to all nations.
Beautiful.
There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
December 13, 2009
We matter more than we'll ever realize
Before going any further please watch the above video...it is enough to make you think two different things "Why do I matter to God"--which in the end is a ridiculous question because this video is inspiring enough to make us think "Man...I'm THAT small and God still watches me, still loves me, still CARES"...The God of the Universe Loves US!
We're going through the Crazy Love series in our Sunday School class at church. I read the book about 8 months ago and I love it. It's enough to make a person think about what their purpose is in this world. It is a challenge to those of us who say we Love God, yet do not act on it. We cover up our God with excuses...instead of loving people enough to tell them the truth.
I do not want to get to the end of my life having allowed my own convictions to die before I do.
This morning in church our sermon was on John 15:1-17
Dr. Darville spoke on the metaphor of verses 1-8 and Johns extension of that Metaphor in verses 9-17.
It is the final "I am" statement God makes.
Take a minute and remember that when God says "I am" it is not just a general statement...it is His name "YHWH"
I loved the sermon this morning because Dr. Darville showed us the difference between Israel and Jesus. The Vine is a symbol for Israel, which is replaced by Jesus because Israel produced fruitlessness while Jesus (the TRUE vine) produces GREAT fruit.
The awesome thing that I got from this sermon, talking about the Vine and the branches that I've heard hundreds of times...is that We are a part of this Vine. We are the branches. We are in the covenant with God and WE must bear fruit. We can not just be compliant and have mechanical change in our lives...we MUST listen to our hearts and have Organic change...REAL change...We can not just believe in this God (who created this enormous Universe and doesn't have to love us or watch us but chooses to)...but we must engage in His plan for our lives.
I learned a lot today. I want to be a part of this covenant with God. I want to share life with God like I share life with my friends. I want to know His thoughts and feelings...I want to hurt for what He hurts for and Love who He loves. I want to desire to fulfill His plan in my life, not knowing WHERE He will lead me.
This awe inspiring God does not need me, but He wants me. He wants all of us to share life with Him in a way we never have before.
The God of the universe LOVES us. He desires a relationship with us! He wants us to bear fruit for Him...
One of the things Dr. Darville said in His sermon today that really stuck...was when he was talking about pruning. In John 15 Jesus speaks of God having to prune so that more fruit can be beared...If you ever watch someone who knows what they are doing prune their fruit or plants...it doesn't look like it would feel too good.
Sometimes God prunes us and it hurts. He takes things from us that we might ask "why"...but it's His way of helping us bear more fruit for His kingdom and glory.
Man what an awesome God we serve!
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