California

So I'm here now. 

I can't believe it. I am so excited to be here... to meet everyone face to face. I love it here. Its beautiful... The people are absolutely amazing. I am so glad that I was able to come out here. To see Pati again. It's going to be weird leaving here... not knowing the next time I will see her. 

God has really been showing me a lot lately. He has really been showing more about what he has called me to do next year. I cannot wait for WAV school to start this next school year. Its going to be so good. 

Being out here... I've done a lot of people watching. I have thought a lot about who I am and what I want in life.... How I want a husband and a family... It seems like thats what I've been thinking about a lot lately. I mean, I have always thought about that. I have always dreamed of having a family. It seems though, the older I get, the more I think about it. Pondering what it will be like.. and with who it will be with. I just have to make sure I don't become consumed with it. I want God to be the focus of my thoughts so I can glorify him in all I do. He will make all the rest possible. 

Well, I think I may go now. Try to get some sleep. 

I'll update soon.

I'm hooooome...

Aka: In Ft. Lauderdale.

Its so good to be back... to see everyone again. 

I miss it here....

I dont really want to leave....

"That no flesh should glory in His presence."

This week has started off a little rough, but I'm starting to see a lot of good shining through it. A lot of different circumstances have surrounded me this week.. Really though things that I've never really had to face before. I emailed Joel (one of my mentors) last night and he responded to me with some verses to read.

As I began to read the verses he gave to me, I realized I was reading 1 Cor 1 instead of 2 Cor 1... but I felt like God still had something for me in the chapter so I kept reading. Vs. 29 - 31 says:

"That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

 

 It amazes me, because I have read this chapter 3 times in the last week and a half, and never really thought about those three verses... It's incredible how we can miss so many good things in the scriptures.

 

The other chapter he gave me to read was James 1. It talkes about growing in patience, but the verses that really got me were the ones that talked about when you are asking the Lord for something, we are to ask in faith.. COMPLETE FAITH... HOLDING NOTHING BACK. I think that this is said a lot more easily than it is done, but that's how we're supposed to pray.

 

God has just showed me so much today.. despite what my surroundings may be, I need to completely DIE TO MYSELF, and ask the Lord in COMPLETE FATIH to guide me where He wants me to go.

 

God, I pray that as I continue this week, Lord, that everyday you would help me die to my desires, and hopes, and everything I am so that you may be able to do what you want in my life. Empty me, God, until there's NOTHING left of me.. so that I can be completely consumed with you.

 

Life's a changin...

So, lately the reality of life has kind of hit me in the face. It's weird, this thing we call growing up. As a little kid, you always look forward to when you grow up, and you get it into your head that it's this great thing that happens, indeed it is, yet there are struggles you must face going through it. I can't even begin to tell you how stinkin excited I am about going to OE next year, yet it's a bittersweet move in my life. It's tough to think about all the things in life I am going to be leaving behind. Many friends I know I will never see again, and things that have been such a part of my life, that I will no longer be involved with. It's tough.

Early this morning a group from the youth at our church left on a missions trip, and I'm so excited for them.. God's going to do great things, but it's been extremely hard for me to deal with, as this is the first time in 3 years that I will not be joining them. I was really hoping to go, but I think it was more for the one last bonding experience more so than it was actually being called to go. Lately I've been looking at all my relationships with those around me, and I've seen  some change drastically. Some relationships that I've had have started to fade... not completely, but enough to miss them terribly. I almost wonder if that was one of the reasons God hadn't called me to missions this year. Maybe I needed to let some friendships fade in order to be able o say goodbye. Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things I will have to go through in my life.. sounds funny, but it's extremely hard for me...

Anyways, I wanted to thank all of you for your friendship and all that it has meant to me. I will miss you all!

Student Life Tour - Clarity

Wow, has it been a while since I last blogged. Life has been pretty crazy... God's definately been growing me.

First of all, let me tell you about Clarity. Two weeks ago our youth group went to Orlando for Student Life Tour. Truthfuly, I was just going because it was Student Life, and I really just wanted to get away, but I ended up coming home changed. You know, it's so easy for us all to get in a rut of waking up, opening the Bible reading a few verses, and then saying "Okay God, I did it." Why is it so hard for us to sit down and make time to spend with our Savior. We really need to be diving into God's Word, and asking Him to show us what He wants.

As David Platt spoke at Clarity,I was so challenged to memorize the Word. We need to hide it in our hearts so when we are discouraged, or tempted we're equipt to fight back. Right now I'm working on memorizing Psalms 46. Read it! It's a great book of the Bible.

Something I've been thinking about.. Why is it so hard for us to tell others about what God is doing in our life? God teaches us things and we just keep them to ourselves. God wants us to tell others about Him, and How He's changing us, and encouraging us. So I encourage you all.. Tell people about what God's doing in you..

Guys, I challenge you.. Don't become satisfied where you are in your relationship with Christ. Always keep striving to know Him more. There is so much So often it's asy for us to think, you know God and I.. we're pretty good right now... So, maybe God's showing you alot and you're growing, but that doesn't mean you've "arrived". None of us have.

This week God's been teaching me trust. Trust seems to be a reoccuring theme in my blogs. Anyways,  I finally sent in my application to Ocean's Edge. I won't lie, I've been stressing over it majorly. Why is it so hard for me to trust God. If He's leading me to OE, then I'll make it... if not, I know He has something else planned for me.

Well, I think I'm done now.. Sorry my thoughts have been kind of scattered