I'll write again soon with more details but for now...here is an overview of the overload in my brain:
I have a bachelor's degree
No more school
I have a bachelor's degree
I have a job
I have a house at the beach
I'm moving into this house
I have a bachelor's degree
August does not demand a school year
Graduation was a whirlwind
I Graduated..on time
MACU is another home
I have a bachelor's degree
God is good
A lot is sinking in right now and it is awesome! I am very blessed by my God who is able!
I will write again soon!
All to God
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
And when the Gentiles heard this...
Before I start getting neck deep into the work I have to do today I guess I really have the urge to write you all. I want to share a few stories of how God has blessed me this past week. Many of you have heard but I'm willing to bet that not all of you know these things since some of you are very far away from me and this makes me sad. However it is still a blessing to be able to share my life with you in this way.
First, I recently got a refund check from my scholarship that wasn't used all the way which is a huge blessing because before this I literally had no money. Having no money makes it hard to live which is the general formula so this money is a huge blessing because not only can I now fund my last few weeks here at school I can save some of it for later use in paying things off.
Second, I have this wonderful opportunity to live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a year housing international students and having to pay little rent. Therefore I must fund my rent money and living expenses and thus need a job, ya know, like the grown ups have. So a while back I applied my little heart out and lo and behold the other morning I get a callback from one of the places I applied asking to set up an appointment for an interview. To God be the glory great things he hath done. So pray it up for your sista over here and this opportunity to snag a job and minister to international students who may not know Jesus.
Third, I've been reading through the book of Acts (it has taken a while but I'm getting there). It truly it awesome the things you find in Scripture that you have read many times but it never hits you until some random point. I came across this in Acts 13:46-48 when Paul is preaching to the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia:
First, I recently got a refund check from my scholarship that wasn't used all the way which is a huge blessing because before this I literally had no money. Having no money makes it hard to live which is the general formula so this money is a huge blessing because not only can I now fund my last few weeks here at school I can save some of it for later use in paying things off.
Second, I have this wonderful opportunity to live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a year housing international students and having to pay little rent. Therefore I must fund my rent money and living expenses and thus need a job, ya know, like the grown ups have. So a while back I applied my little heart out and lo and behold the other morning I get a callback from one of the places I applied asking to set up an appointment for an interview. To God be the glory great things he hath done. So pray it up for your sista over here and this opportunity to snag a job and minister to international students who may not know Jesus.
Third, I've been reading through the book of Acts (it has taken a while but I'm getting there). It truly it awesome the things you find in Scripture that you have read many times but it never hits you until some random point. I came across this in Acts 13:46-48 when Paul is preaching to the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia:
"And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (ESV)
This struck me because of what happened in the Gentile's hearing. They rejoiced because Paul had given them their first glance into their new found future. They were already God-fear-ers according to the context because Paul and Barnabas are in a synagogue, but their reaction is just as legitimate as someone finding something new and true and believing whole-heartedly in it.
Two things come to mind here as I read this; 1: are we so conditioned to this life altering news that, unlike the Gentiles of that day, we deem it "normal" and "old news"? and 2: This makes me excited to share this news with someone who has never heard of it. I pray that the Spirit makes this rejoicing a continuous thing in my life and the life of all other followers of Christ.
Well, there's my tidbit for the day. Thank you for your prayers and your love, and I hope that in some way God has blessed you in apparent ways this week. God is good, all the time.
All to God
Friday, April 13, 2012
Astoundingly Practical
Sometimes it's really awesome to see God put a glowing light bulb over someone else's head. It's cool to feel the Spirit making a clear path for other people, and seeing it so clear. Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting so long for some sort of sign in some aspect of my calling and while I'm waiting I'm busy trying to clear the way for myself. However, in slowing down only for a moment, it was nice to see someone else's calling so clearly defined. I take great joy in seeing other people's callings come to fruition, and sometimes I get a front row seat to their door swinging wide open. It is a really neat thing to experience.
God is abundant. He is working in ways we do not even see yet, ways that we cannot comprehend. He works so that only when we are ready we will see the plan from beginning to end, full circle, and deem it worth it. We take all the bad times that came with it, all the confusion, and disappointments only to be able to look back on them and say that we wouldn't have had it any other way. I think instead of the old saying that "God works in mysterious ways" that we should say "God works in astoundingly practical ways." Because just looking back on my own calling and how it came to be and where it is now I think "God really knows me."
There would have been no way that I would be where I am without God knowing how to work in my life because of who I am. The same might go for other people, and in my experience it has worked that way for plenty of people. He knows how to speak, work, discipline, and use us in unique ways so that we might finally get it according to our own individual ways of understanding something. Now that's what you call a specialist in creation; nearly 7 billion people and more to come and each one unique.
Simply, God knows how to work in our lives, and who to put in our path so that we might get what he is trying to do in us. Many times I don't look around and observe enough to see it happening in other people's lives, but when I do it excites me about the enhancement of the Kingdom, and how God knows how to help them work in their ministry. Our Father is, as they say, top drawer! He knows us well.
All to God
God is abundant. He is working in ways we do not even see yet, ways that we cannot comprehend. He works so that only when we are ready we will see the plan from beginning to end, full circle, and deem it worth it. We take all the bad times that came with it, all the confusion, and disappointments only to be able to look back on them and say that we wouldn't have had it any other way. I think instead of the old saying that "God works in mysterious ways" that we should say "God works in astoundingly practical ways." Because just looking back on my own calling and how it came to be and where it is now I think "God really knows me."
There would have been no way that I would be where I am without God knowing how to work in my life because of who I am. The same might go for other people, and in my experience it has worked that way for plenty of people. He knows how to speak, work, discipline, and use us in unique ways so that we might finally get it according to our own individual ways of understanding something. Now that's what you call a specialist in creation; nearly 7 billion people and more to come and each one unique.
Simply, God knows how to work in our lives, and who to put in our path so that we might get what he is trying to do in us. Many times I don't look around and observe enough to see it happening in other people's lives, but when I do it excites me about the enhancement of the Kingdom, and how God knows how to help them work in their ministry. Our Father is, as they say, top drawer! He knows us well.
All to God
Thursday, April 12, 2012
15 minutes in my mind (kind of)
I have 15 minutes until class......what is going through my mind?
Finish exegetical paper, finish study questions tomorrow, do all the things I'm behind on, getting caught up in negativity in my mind, this weekend should serve as a catch up weekend....but will it? My room is a mess, why am I so disorganized? Impatience, Bosnia, Friends I don't see very often, things outside of school that need to be done, get a job, prepare for next year more, Life is crazy.
Yep that's my fifteen minutes of writing the things on the heart and mind of a missionary in training. So many things running through my head, it might spin. God take it all and show me what to do with it. Love you all, thanks for your many prayers. I will hopefully write again soon.
All to God
Finish exegetical paper, finish study questions tomorrow, do all the things I'm behind on, getting caught up in negativity in my mind, this weekend should serve as a catch up weekend....but will it? My room is a mess, why am I so disorganized? Impatience, Bosnia, Friends I don't see very often, things outside of school that need to be done, get a job, prepare for next year more, Life is crazy.
Yep that's my fifteen minutes of writing the things on the heart and mind of a missionary in training. So many things running through my head, it might spin. God take it all and show me what to do with it. Love you all, thanks for your many prayers. I will hopefully write again soon.
All to God
Monday, March 26, 2012
A blank shell
Well forgive me again my friends for neglecting you once more. Life has been full of papers and assignments and all that jazz that comes with school. It is extremely hard to believe that there are about 5 or 6 weeks left in this semester and that is an exciting and unnerving revelation.
Anyway outside of school, I have been experiencing this ongoing onslaught of issues that I am having to release into God's hands. They are not all necessarily issues that are bad, just need a little more looking after than what I can provide, and who better to trust than the best ally I have, the Creator himself. He has used me in ways that I wasn't expecting already this week, which comes as a surprise since my focus has not necessarily been starkly fixed on him.
Anyway outside of school, I have been experiencing this ongoing onslaught of issues that I am having to release into God's hands. They are not all necessarily issues that are bad, just need a little more looking after than what I can provide, and who better to trust than the best ally I have, the Creator himself. He has used me in ways that I wasn't expecting already this week, which comes as a surprise since my focus has not necessarily been starkly fixed on him.
It's a nudging reminder that he needs me to pay attention so that he can use me further, otherwise I'm a blank shell in a shotgun poised for use.
It's not as if God needs me but it is a blessing that he wants me. Oftentimes I get twisted up in deadlines and beating myself up for not finishing a paper on time or something of that nature. But if I am not ready for him then he cannot use me, so it is also a blessing that he providentially led me into situations where I could be of some use. Yet it was a subtle reminder that I could do this and more if my focus was solely where it needed to be. God likes to communicate with me in subtle ways, seems to be the way I get it most.
Here's to another day of progress in my ever-growing awareness of who I am in Christ.
All to God.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
8 more weeks
So the much needed break is over and tomorrow starts the final 8 weeks of what has been a big part of my goal for four years. Graduation happens in 8 weeks, degree is received in 8 weeks, new way of living happens in 8 weeks. It is a countdown, by the week it gets closer and busier and crazier UNTIL..............sweet release.
My four years in college have been a mixture of many things but most of all I have been blessed to be able to receive such an education that I have. I have grown in my leadership, and in my responsibility, and mostly my appreciation and devotion to the Gospel. I have had professors encourage me in my calling to carry the Gospel throughout the world and for that I am so thankful.
These next 8 weeks are my last, I've come a long way but I have a little longer to go.
From coming in and being an RBC flame and nearly leaving a MACU mustang I can truly say I have been blessed. Soon enough there will be a new life I will transition into with new experiences that will hopefully further the Kingdom's cause and well I can't close this out without mentioning that you can click here and see a little bit of my future plans and how you can be a part of it.
Well read up, learn on, cuz we got 8 more weeks to grind our minds to a pulp, and gain from it.
All to God
My four years in college have been a mixture of many things but most of all I have been blessed to be able to receive such an education that I have. I have grown in my leadership, and in my responsibility, and mostly my appreciation and devotion to the Gospel. I have had professors encourage me in my calling to carry the Gospel throughout the world and for that I am so thankful.
These next 8 weeks are my last, I've come a long way but I have a little longer to go.
From coming in and being an RBC flame and nearly leaving a MACU mustang I can truly say I have been blessed. Soon enough there will be a new life I will transition into with new experiences that will hopefully further the Kingdom's cause and well I can't close this out without mentioning that you can click here and see a little bit of my future plans and how you can be a part of it.
Well read up, learn on, cuz we got 8 more weeks to grind our minds to a pulp, and gain from it.
All to God
Thursday, March 8, 2012
With a little help from my friends
Oh how this spring break has been! It started off with a little adventure to Roanoke VA to hang out with some friends and a very wonderful fellow. Then I went from the mountains to the beach where I will live for a year before heading overseas for 12 more months. Whilst there I saw the house I will be renting and applied like a mad woman for jobs for the year. This is awesome! Things seem to be working out and I have a feeling God has his hand in it all!
All the while I will be living in that house at the beach I will be raising support for the year's stay in 2013. While I will have a job (hopefully), living and ministering in eastern Europe cannot come from a minimum wage job that must be spread out among rent, food, gas, saving for paying back loans, and whatever else might be a surprise.
All the while I will be living in that house at the beach I will be raising support for the year's stay in 2013. While I will have a job (hopefully), living and ministering in eastern Europe cannot come from a minimum wage job that must be spread out among rent, food, gas, saving for paying back loans, and whatever else might be a surprise.
To be honest....I need YOUR help
I need you to understand my needs as brothers and sisters who are confident in the mission, I need you to take an interest in the people of the world who do not yet know Christ. I simply need you to put in a word at your church, or to your friends and family.
I'm calling on you.
Simply asking to make relationships with you and those around you for the cause of Christ.
I ask that you can be my voice in your circles, I am willing to come and explain my vision for 2013. All YOU have to do is give me a time, and a place. Also soon I will be creating some informational newsletters and things of the like. Some have responded and I am so encouraged by that! If you haven't yet shown interest in receiving these things, you are always welcome! All you have to do is drop me a line with your address or e-mail address and when these things are ready you will be sure to receive them!
Ready? Set? GO!
Let's partner together, let's get to know each other, let's stay a while. Thank you for your prayers and support!
All to God
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