The new year has come and I didn't have very high hopes or resolutions because, quite frankly, I knew I wouldn't finish anything I started anyway. Well, God had different plans and my New Years has already got off to an amazing start and I now have motivation to keep it going.
First of all, a good friend of mine challenged me to take the 30 days of Christian music challenge and while I've always been a little cynical of Christian music at times, I agreed. I knew there needed to be changes in my spiritual life and I was willing to at least give it a try. Now, I understand it's only been six days, but I'm loving it more than I ever expected. I made a Christian music playlist on my ipod and I can't get enough of it. My two favorite CDs I've listened to the most are Ages by the Apex band(s) and, most recently, "Ghosts Upon The Earth" by Gungor. I encourage you to check it out if you haven't heard of Gungor. "Brother Moon" is my favorite so far, but they're all amazing.
God has been speaking to me in ways I haven't heard in a long time. He has placed specific people in my life who challenge me and encourage me in my walk and who have given me the accountability I've been so desperately in need of. My relationship with Him is becoming closer and I'm learning, again, what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Praise the Lord for his perfect patience and daily grace upon my life.
Pray that I can continue in this passion and discipline for His Word and His presense in my life. Pray that I will have wisdom in life decisions that face me and that I continue to surround myself with the people that will sharpen my faith and that I can sharpen them as well. I pray that I can have the impact and influence on others that I have recently had in my own life.
I am memorizing this passage from the end of Paul's journey: "For I have already been poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Friday, November 4, 2011
Catch- Up
Alright, I'm sorry! I have completely failed at blogging, even after I got the app, I'm just so busy it's not even funny. So this blog is entitled "catch up" because I feel like I have so much to...well...catch up on. I know I get overwhelmed when I see these kinds of posts so I think "oh boy, I don't really want to read a novel right now". SO here are some pictures to help you not get so bored.
The sky here has been amazing. This is the sky one day in the middle of the afternoon. I don't think I've ever seen the clouds look so much like fabric! Beautiful, had to get a pic.
Fall break this year was one of my favorite! Kentucky was gorgeous and it was so nice to have a long weekend to relax and hang out with friends. Loved playing in the leaves and learning how to throw a Frisbee too!
Most recently, one of my housemates just hung up a chain countdown until her boyfriend comes to visit! We're all so excited. He's South African and has only been in the US once since we've been to school. Now he's coming for almost 2 months! 36 days!!
One more thing to take up my time! I am now an independent Thirty-One consultant! I'm so excited and really am enjoying doing it all. This was the set up for my first party and this is all that came in my enrollment kit! I love it, but it's sooo time consuming right now! There are so many things I want to do with it, but just do not have the time right now. I could devote an entire week to this alone!
Well, I have no pictures for this one, but I started my field experience this past week and I start teaching on Monday. I'm a little overwhelmed, but excited. My kids are fantastic and I'm excited to be teaching all day! I'm just a little nervous because I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing! Please pray that I can feel prepared each day and that I can show these kids love. I feel like they don't get praised much and I just want them to know how beautiful they are! I already love them each so much!
That's all for now. Hopefully more pics to come!
LL
Sunday, October 2, 2011
On the Go
I just downloaded a blogging app on my phone so hopefully I'll be able to blog more without actually being in my computer. I'm loving this on the go convenience of a smartphone.
These next few weeks will be absolutely crazy for me, starting this past weekend with homecoming. It went really well and Clara Lutz did such a fantastic job organizing everything and setting everything up for her first time! It was busy but I'm glad it went well.
This Wednesday the Alumni office is sending the seniors on DAE to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta, which I'm very excited about. Unfortunately that means I have extra work to do for the classes I'll miss Thursday and friday. After we get back, well have three days of school and our fall break starts, so I'll be going to Kentucky with some of my friends. Hopefully that will be a little more relaxing. So yeah, I have exciting things going on, but there's never a dull moment in my life, that's for sure.
Hopefully I'll post soon about what God's doing with our Sunday class at church. I'm really excited about it, but now, just pray that you'll give us wisdom and patience and love for these students and wisdom on how to deal with everything.
These next few weeks will be absolutely crazy for me, starting this past weekend with homecoming. It went really well and Clara Lutz did such a fantastic job organizing everything and setting everything up for her first time! It was busy but I'm glad it went well.
This Wednesday the Alumni office is sending the seniors on DAE to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta, which I'm very excited about. Unfortunately that means I have extra work to do for the classes I'll miss Thursday and friday. After we get back, well have three days of school and our fall break starts, so I'll be going to Kentucky with some of my friends. Hopefully that will be a little more relaxing. So yeah, I have exciting things going on, but there's never a dull moment in my life, that's for sure.
Hopefully I'll post soon about what God's doing with our Sunday class at church. I'm really excited about it, but now, just pray that you'll give us wisdom and patience and love for these students and wisdom on how to deal with everything.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Feelin' Famous
I mentioned that I'd post when my new blogs for Cedarville were posted. Well, guess what? They posted today! SO, you can go here and check out my last two CU blogs. We have our pictures up and everything. Not going to lie, I've kind of always wanted to have my picture on the website, so this is really exciting.
Anyway, for those of you away from Cedarville (which is probably most of you), I wanted to give you a little update on the awesome things God is doing on campus. Apparently, every freshman this summer received the book "True Religion" by Palmer Chinchen. I have not read the book, but in it he starts talking about the 1+billion people around the world who have no shoes. He began by having on "Barefoot Sunday"s where he challenged his congregation in CO to bring their shoes to the alter and go the rest of the day barefoot. He's been doing these Barefoot Sundays every year since.
One freshman was inspired and challenged the freshman class to have a barefoot day at Cedarville. Palmer Chinchen came and spoke in chapel this past Thursday- the perfect opportunity for this ministry. They advertised it for about a week and "Barefoot Thursday" ended up gathering 3276 pairs of shoes. How awesome. I encourage you to go to Cedarville's Facebook page and look at the pictures taken that day of students going barefoot, thousands of shoes at the alter, and students gathering around the shoes pile bowed in prayer. Thank God for one freshman students' vision.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Life as a Senior
I think I'll make it a point to update my blog whenever I write an entry for Cedarville. Considering I've posted my first one, it's time to update! I'll make sure and post a link here when my blogs are posted on the website, but mine might not be there every week. It's a little different writing when you know people will be reading it, especially when those people are prospective students, alumni and current students' parents. So much pressure.
Anyway, I'm really excited about the year so far. I love love love living off campus, my apartment and my housemates. We're getting along so well and having so much fun. We just had a photoshoot with one of our talented photographer friends for new pictures to hang in our family room. I think we were laughing in about every picture. I love making memories...it's kind of one of my favorite pastimes.
I'm really learning to make the most of everything. Unless I have already committed my time to something else, I'm trying to take up the moto "why not?" unless, of course, it's inappropriate or unreasonable. For example, right around the time school started, a bunch of friends and I drove to Columbus to go to Jeni's ice cream. Yes, we drove over an hour just for ice cream. Believe me, it was SO worth it- amazing!!! This coming Sunday, I have the opportunity to go moonlight canoeing in Columbus with some friends. How often in my life will I have these types of opportunities again? I'll definitely let you know how it goes.
I'm very thankful right now. Thankful for my friends, my housemates, my family and just where God has taken my life up to this point. I'm also thankful that He is in control and that I don't need to worry about what my future holds. I'm glad he knows, because I don't even want to think about it right now! Haha.
Oh, pray for my roommate, and very good friend, Meagan. She is flying to Bangladesh this coming Saturday for her 10-12 week student teaching. She's flying there alone (for the most part) and doesn't know anyone over there. She's getting really nervous, but pray that her flight goes smoothly and that she will feel God's peace and presence in the whole situation.
Anyway, I'm really excited about the year so far. I love love love living off campus, my apartment and my housemates. We're getting along so well and having so much fun. We just had a photoshoot with one of our talented photographer friends for new pictures to hang in our family room. I think we were laughing in about every picture. I love making memories...it's kind of one of my favorite pastimes.
I'm really learning to make the most of everything. Unless I have already committed my time to something else, I'm trying to take up the moto "why not?" unless, of course, it's inappropriate or unreasonable. For example, right around the time school started, a bunch of friends and I drove to Columbus to go to Jeni's ice cream. Yes, we drove over an hour just for ice cream. Believe me, it was SO worth it- amazing!!! This coming Sunday, I have the opportunity to go moonlight canoeing in Columbus with some friends. How often in my life will I have these types of opportunities again? I'll definitely let you know how it goes.
I'm very thankful right now. Thankful for my friends, my housemates, my family and just where God has taken my life up to this point. I'm also thankful that He is in control and that I don't need to worry about what my future holds. I'm glad he knows, because I don't even want to think about it right now! Haha.
Oh, pray for my roommate, and very good friend, Meagan. She is flying to Bangladesh this coming Saturday for her 10-12 week student teaching. She's flying there alone (for the most part) and doesn't know anyone over there. She's getting really nervous, but pray that her flight goes smoothly and that she will feel God's peace and presence in the whole situation.
Meagan And I in the Sear's Tower
Monday, August 22, 2011
Reminders
Watching the beginning of my senior year creep closer and closer into reality I'm reminded of the things God has taught me in the last three years at Cedarville. Situations from Freshman year have resurfaced and I'm reminded of the lessons I was taught the first time- value people, invest in them, show Christ's love always but don't lead them on, manipulate them, or take advantage of them. I'm still on the edge of the delicate process of mixing all of these elements together and figuring out what exactly it looks like executed. Pray that I can deal with a touchy situation delicately and with consideration.
Another thing I've been reminded of is to take advantage of the opportunities I have at this time in my life. I'm afraid I took many things for granted the past three years and I'm realizing there are so many other things I want to do, and I have one school year left to do it. Yes, I probably will be over committed this year, hopefully I'll be able to keep everything in perspective and still be disciplined, but between 17 credit hours, two jobs, two orgs, and possibly intramural volleyball, as well as having some kind of social life, it should be a fun year. Pray that I can be grateful for the things I have done, instead of pining for the things I missed out on.
Lastly, I've been reminded to keep God as the main focus of my day. If I do not spend daily time in His Word, the reality of me speaking love and representing Christ effectively are so much less than if He is at the core of my day. The Word is not only to be respected or liked, it's to be enjoyed, craved, and delighted in. And although I openly acknowledge it's a constant struggle, it's a struggle worth fighting against. Pray that I will long to spend time in Scripture even when school work and responsibilities pile up.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but [I] trust in the name of the Lord [my] God."
Proverbs 22:11 "One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have a king for a friend"
Another thing I've been reminded of is to take advantage of the opportunities I have at this time in my life. I'm afraid I took many things for granted the past three years and I'm realizing there are so many other things I want to do, and I have one school year left to do it. Yes, I probably will be over committed this year, hopefully I'll be able to keep everything in perspective and still be disciplined, but between 17 credit hours, two jobs, two orgs, and possibly intramural volleyball, as well as having some kind of social life, it should be a fun year. Pray that I can be grateful for the things I have done, instead of pining for the things I missed out on.
Lastly, I've been reminded to keep God as the main focus of my day. If I do not spend daily time in His Word, the reality of me speaking love and representing Christ effectively are so much less than if He is at the core of my day. The Word is not only to be respected or liked, it's to be enjoyed, craved, and delighted in. And although I openly acknowledge it's a constant struggle, it's a struggle worth fighting against. Pray that I will long to spend time in Scripture even when school work and responsibilities pile up.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but [I] trust in the name of the Lord [my] God."
Proverbs 22:11 "One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have a king for a friend"
photo credit: Zach Murphy
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
New Blessings
For those of you who don't know, I am one of 17 Cedarville students a part of Cedarville's Alumni Association. We help the Alumni office by helping with homecoming and other on-campus events as well as assist them in their chapter and regional events throughout the year across the country. This past week was our fall trip which is designed for training and team building. Our destinations included Rochester, NY, NH, CT, Boston, MA, and Warren, ME. On top of getting to know some of the sweetest, funniest, and down-to-earth people I've ever met, God worked in us this week and I am so blessed and thankful for these new additions to my life.
We had so much fun being goofs with each other, getting to know each other's lives and humor but my favorite was that we grew and challenged each other spiritually. When we sang, we sang unashamed in a small classroom in the mountains of NH, on the top of our lungs worshiping our God together. It was such a beautiful thing. We grew together as a family and for all of those reasons, I thank God for every single one of them and the unique aspect they bring to our group.
In NH, I was refreshed to be around a group of believers my age who were so in love with Christ and had the contagious joy of His presences in their lives. I desired to spend more time with them in His Word and worshipping together. God is so good to us, blessing us daily and I was reminded of this everyday on our trip...and every day since. I've been saying this for a while, but God is doing a work in my life right now and I am so excited to see how it plays out. Yes, I'm always nervous when life changes up a little, but my God is a God who controls the sun, each star, every cloud, bird in the sky, and each moment I'm alive. He is in perfect command of my life and it is His to do as He pleases. God is continuing to work. May I have the diligence and obedience to do my part and spend time with Him, that I can carry out His will for my life to glorify Him alone and spread Him through the world.
We had so much fun being goofs with each other, getting to know each other's lives and humor but my favorite was that we grew and challenged each other spiritually. When we sang, we sang unashamed in a small classroom in the mountains of NH, on the top of our lungs worshiping our God together. It was such a beautiful thing. We grew together as a family and for all of those reasons, I thank God for every single one of them and the unique aspect they bring to our group.
In NH, I was refreshed to be around a group of believers my age who were so in love with Christ and had the contagious joy of His presences in their lives. I desired to spend more time with them in His Word and worshipping together. God is so good to us, blessing us daily and I was reminded of this everyday on our trip...and every day since. I've been saying this for a while, but God is doing a work in my life right now and I am so excited to see how it plays out. Yes, I'm always nervous when life changes up a little, but my God is a God who controls the sun, each star, every cloud, bird in the sky, and each moment I'm alive. He is in perfect command of my life and it is His to do as He pleases. God is continuing to work. May I have the diligence and obedience to do my part and spend time with Him, that I can carry out His will for my life to glorify Him alone and spread Him through the world.
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