Growing up

Well, I didn't mean to let so much time go by between posts. Oops! This will just have to be a super update!

The end of this week will mark my 4th week of living/interning in Texas. I must say, time has been flying by, and I can't help but think it won't be slowing down any.

Here's a list of a few quirks related to my humble abode (aka my apartment):

-Sometimes the wind blows so hard it sounds like someone is being rammed against my door.
-I have to keep the blinds closed during the day or else it just gets too stinkin' hot!
-Quarters for laundry have become my best friend.
-Maintaining a decent internet connection has become an art.
-I've only had to squash 3 bugs.
-My shower rod fell/wasn't long enough, but thanks to the maintenance guys, the shower had a speedy recovery.
-The drone of the cars on Seminary Drive at night reminds me of the Loop traffic back in Pineview :)
-The meals I cook here last a whole lot longer than when I share a kitchen with 4 other girls.

On a more serious note, I've learned quite a bit about being on my own. It's like God has been saying to me, "Okay, I know you think you can handle things on your own, but let me show you what it means to actually rely on me."

The Lord has taught me a lot about trust and the fact that I'm not alone in this...especially last Sunday on Father's Day when I was really missing my family. (My first bout with homesickness.)

I've been reading in John, and my mind is continually blown by what Jesus says.

For example:
In chapter 14, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit and how "you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." How awesome is that?! But the question is, do I allow the Holy Spirit to work through me? Honestly, some days I just go through the motions without even thinking about this power that is IN me.

All throughout this book Jesus is teaching His disciples, and half the time they don't get it. It makes me wonder--how much am I like that? How much does God do in my life on a day-to-day basis and I don't even realize it? Or worse, I realize it but don't acknowledge it?


It's not until Jesus is at the cross that the disciples even realize what is happening.


I'm so thankful my Savior loves me even when I don't get it the first, second or even third time. I'm so thankful the way he has allowed me to be in this place for 8 weeks and has provided such awesome community. I'm so thankful that as weak as I am (and trust me, I'm weak!), my Jesus isn't giving up on me.


I'm just so thankful.

Texas: First Impressions

I'm hoping to keep my blog updated regularly this summer so I can keep a record of everything I'm learning out here.

A list of first impressions:
-BIG
-pretty and green on the East border!
-the Texas star is everywhere
-Fort Worth is big but sort of has a small(ish) town feel to it
-the interstate & highway connectors here put Spaghetti Junction in Atlanta to shame
-the people are super nice!
-hot and humid (different from GA heat)
-no Chickfila :( but Sonic is everywhere!
-cool street names
-lots of big churches around
-internships are fun! :)

That's all I've got so far, but I'm sure there are more to come! It's definitely different here than back home, but I'm loving the fact that God has given me the opportunity to get a taste of a new place! I can't begin to express how thankful I am for the Lord's perfect plan. It's totally blowing my mind right now! That's all for now.

Stay tuned!

Remediation Project iamaletter_0002.wmv

This video is a project I did this semester for my Writing for the Web class. It basically tells the story of why I started writing a blog. It was cool getting to tell a story through a digital means. I thought it would be appropriate to share this on my blog since it's about my blog. It was truly by the grace of God though that this project came together! It's my hope that it conveys how I truly feel about why I blog and share my thoughts out here in cyber space.

Enjoy!

Two years later and my heart is still there...

It has been almost 2 years since I went to Montego Bay, Jamaica with Freshley, and so I felt compelled to write a reflection of my time there. Going to Jamaica changed my life. My perspective of the world and just global missions in general widened greatly. I love the people. I love their laughter and their joy. The Sunday we were there we got to go to a local church, and those people knew what it meant to worship! They kept saying in all things, no matter what, praise the Lord! I loved getting to know the students and workers at the YWAM base. They pursued God in a way that inspired me every day. I remember one morning sitting in a swing overlooking the Bay, and just worshiping and praying while being enveloped in God's creation. Now when I see the Sandals Beach Resort commercials on TV, I can't help but think of the family who now has a two room home that is woven among the hills with no direct math marked out. One day a little boy asked me, "What's it like to live in America?" My life was a dream for them.

The Lord broke down my walls that week. He showed me who He is and what He is capable of doing. Our team became a family, and we were able to learn so much from each other. I remember going to a children's home and playing with some of the most precious kids I've ever been around. I remember talking to Jessica, a local girl, while helping scoop buckets of rocks at the new Norwood Church. She had such a sweet spirit and I think of her often. I think about the prayer and worship times our team had, especially the last night. My brothers and sisters in Christ prayed for me without abandon.

When we got back to Athens, I knew in my heart that I wasn't the same. I couldn't get Jamaica off my mind. The words of Phil Wickham's "You're Beautiful" always come to mind as I think about that extraordinary place. The Lord showed me His beauty not just through the incredible landscape, but the people He surrounded us with.

There will always be a part of me in Jamaica. I can never let it go. I went there with the intention of helping others, but the reality is that the people there taught me so much. They taught me about what's important in life. That I should give thanks, in ALL things. No matter what. Jesus showed His love for me that week in a whole new way. I learned that my God is their God, and He is our Father. And one day, if not on this earth, I will meet those brothers and sisters again to praise our Father for eternity. And what a glorious day it will be!

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 43:6-7

"I cannot hide my love..."

Last night I went to a neighbor's apartment for living room worship. That's not really a term you hear a lot, but it was just a bunch of students gathered together to praise Jesus...in the living room. At first, I was a little reluctant to go. Yesterday was a long day, and I was looking forward to working on some homework and just resting. But when one of my friends came over and asked me to come, I realized I didn't really have a good excuse not to. When I got there, I was blown away. The girls who live at this apartment welcomed me with open arms even though they had never met me before. Not that I expected something different, but they were just so welcoming! Then, when we started to worship, everyone there just started going for it! Honestly it felt like I wasn't in America, but in some underground church where we only had that one night to openly praise the Lord. And we got LOUD! Not in a weird way, but with just a couple guitars, drums and our voices His name was lifted up. It made me realize that it doesn't matter where I am, I can still give God the glory and praise that's due him. Also, a couple of songs we sang were all about His faithfulness which is something I've been constantly needing a reminder of and boy, did I get it!


Here's the chorus to one of the songs we sang:

"I cannot hide my love, I cannot hide my love!
My feet will have to dance!
I cannot hide my love, I cannot hide my love!
My heart will have to sing!"


I can't hide it!

My prayer for this semester and my life:

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, whose sake I have lost all thing. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:7-14



I am here for Him. Only Him.

Things I'm thankful for right now:

Jesus
good books
warm & fuzzy pajamas
red velvet cake
good conversations with my family
breakfast casserole
morning jogs
catching up with close friends/family
close friends/family in general
lecrae & needtobreathe
guitar
birthdays
my parents' marriage
regis & kelly in the morning
memories
my dad's ability to fix things around the house
baking
old stuff in my grandma's house


And that's just so far this week.

God is so good to me!