Why not change majors one more time?

Life has been extremely busy with taking 18 credits. As most people know I like to be busy, so this isn't something that bothers me. In fact I have 6 classes, but I also have choir and SIFE which are both big commitments; however, both are things I really enjoy. I am still trying to get back into good study habits as well as trying to get enough sleep. I haven't quite figured out what it looks like to live off campus and then go back to campus to study in the library at night. I'm sure once it comes crunch time that will change because I sure don't get a lot done in my apartment. I haven't figured out a way yet to carry all of the books and everything else I need for an entire day to just stay on campus until all of my studying is done!

It seems like every time I post my major is changing, but once again I have switched majors. It's not so drastic this time...Business Administration with a non profit focus. For those of you wondering- changing majors won't put me behind at all, if anything I am planning to be ahead. More news on that to come! I truly believe God is calling me to work with a non profit organization once I graduate. This summer I experienced the joys of ministry and the struggles of it. I loved every minute of it and am committing my life to work to further His kingdom here on earth. What better way to do it then to use my love for business and my strengths. God has really laid the organization of Christ In Youth on my heart and I love the work that they do, I am really looking forward to see how God uses that passion of mine further down the road.

Update on work- I have been working one night a week reffing volleyball. Starting this week I am going to be working in Admissions at school. I am going to be calling prospective students and encouraging them to consider Olivet. This is something I am really passionate about. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to promote my school. Again I have been reminded that by placing complete trust in God and allowing Him to do things in His time He remains faithful!

Communication is such an important part of life. I think each and every day I am challenged in a new way to work on communicating with others. This summer I was really learning how to work with people and how to look at each person's gifts. While this is still true today I have been learning about communication in a new way. This has been a season of learning how to communicate with those it may be more difficult to communicate with. Its about making every word that comes out of my mouth glorifying to God and responding to people in love. Psalm 19:14 says "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Not only do we show God's love through our actions toward others, but also in our words and in the way we think. Sometimes it is difficult to respond in such a way, but it's something God has really laid on my heart.

It can be so difficult around here to find quiet time, which is something I realize I need more and more of. I never used to be the person who needed alone time, but I have seen how important that time is. We live in a society where we have to have noise nonstop. Finding silence is next to impossible. Even when no one is around we turn the music on. It can be exhausting to live in a place where there is constantly something going on, it takes away from it being a place to relax. As difficult as it may be, it is my responsibility to take the initiative to find a quiet place and to make sure I am getting the things done that I need to. This is why I'm going to have to start making my way back to the library in the evenings!

God has shown me over and over again that although we go through times of frustration, struggle, and change He remains constant. He is always there for us and He knows all of our frustrations and struggles. We live in a world that brings feelings of discontentment and exhaustion, but God is our hope and He will give us rest.

Dayenu

God has been teaching me so many things over the past few days and I wanted to share a few of them with you.

1. My God is enough- Dayenu.
I was challenged with a few questions: If I lose my family, is God still enough? If I lose my home is God still enough? If I don’t know what the future holds as my God still enough? It’s when we come to the realization that all of these things don’t matter because God has it all under control. After we say that God is enough, we have to ask ourselves if others can see God in the middle of our darkest struggles? We have a God who is more than enough; will we depend on him in every area of our lives?

2. New Song.
The question isn’t where is God, but have I turned toward Him. We so often turn toward others and not toward God- this leaves us empty. We turn to other people to lift us up and we remain broken. God has turned toward us will we turn toward Him? Psalm 40:1-40 says that The Lord wants to put a new song in our life. A common theme- Will we trust on Him to do so?

3. Faithfulness in the Little Things.
When we look at the story of David we see His faithfulness in the things unseen. This is what God uses to shape Him. The same goes for us. It is our faithfulness to God in the everyday things that prepare us. It’s remaining faithful to the life Christ has called you to.

What has God been teaching you? Take time to reflect on the ways God wants you to be faithful to Him. He truly is enough!

Trusting God through Challenges

Adjusting to life away from CIY has been a challenge. I definitely miss working, but even more I miss all of the people I worked with. It's so hard to go back to life at school and being with a different group of friends. I find myself wanting to walk down the hall and find a certain person and then realizing I'm in a different place. Or even times when something spurs a memory and no one here has a clue what I'm talking about. However; as the days progress I am getting more and more used to the fact that Olivet is where I am right now. I have really been challenging myself to try and focus on the here and now. I often try to start planning out certain aspects of my life, but I have to remind myself that God wants to do things in my life this year, today, this second. So, rather then spending all my time looking toward the next big event, or for the next change in my life, I think it's really important to look at what it is God wants to teach me today and why it is He has me in this place right now.

I've been back at school for 3 weeks now. It started with leadership retreat and training, this was a great week to meet others and to just grow and be encouraged as a leader. I'm really excited about the d-group I am going to get to lead this fall and the relationships and growing that is going to take place. Another area I have been really involved in is choir. I have a leadership role with that this year and I have been working very diligently to plan retreat and to organize some of the events for the year. Already, I have faced some challenges and frustrations with that, but I am really passionate about leading this choir and getting to know the girls who are a part of it- I trust that God is at work through all of that. This weekend is our choir retreat so I will spend a good part of this week finishing the planning for that.

Work has been a major frustration as I have been back at school. As busy as I may be it is always nice to have a job- there is a sense of accomplishment in working and it's a good break from school work. As much as I would love to have a certain job on campus it just hasn't worked out. I have been a little bit discouraged with it all. I am working on not allowing that to define me, because in the end it's not about whether or not you get the job. I know for a fact that God has much bigger plans for me when it comes to working. Right now I am just focusing on growing in my spiritual life, doing my best in my classes, and really investing in the lives of others. There are seasons in life and God has been challenging me to really focus on other areas of my life in this season. God is faithful and I trust that if I am obedient He will open doors where He sees fit.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6