Everyday is a day to praise the Lord and to thank Him for the blessings He has placed in my life, but today I wanted to take a chance to share a few.
I'm thankful for...
Joy:
This semester I have been so full of joy and I am thankful for the friends in my life. We will face trials, times of loneliness, and struggles in this world but the Lord has overcome that and He provides us joy. I know I have gone through seasons where I struggled to find that joy, but it is back and for that I am so incredibly grateful. I wake up each day with a smile on my face, eager for what that day holds. I've really found joy in the little everyday things, rather then constantly seeking what my future holds.
My Passions:
Starting college it took me a while to discover what my passions were. All I ever knew were athletics. This year the Lord has made it very clear to me what I love and how I can use those gifts for His kingdom. I am thankful for the passion he has given me for music. It is one that has been rekindled in the last few years, but I am able to use that to worship the Lord and that is something I'm extremely thankful for. Another passion He has given me is that of leadership. He has placed opportunities in front of me this fall to be an example and to hold leadership positions. What a blessing that has been. I have a job that I love and I have been able to share with others my excitement for my school. I have a huge heart for CIY, and through that God is doing some incredible things. Another major passion in my life right now is working with Feed My Starving Children to bring a Mobile Pack to Olivet. It is a big project, but I am so determined to make it happen and God's provided others who share that passion with me who are going to be a huge help! I feel like everything I do is something I have become extremely passionate about.
Life:
I was reminded today of the gift of life. We often take each day for granted but today I am reminded that each day is a gift from God. It's only been 6 months since the tornado when I experienced so many people losing their homes and families experience loss. I can't think about that day and not wonder where I could have been during that tornado without knowing that God was looking out for me. He definitely had his hand of protection on me.
There are so many more things that the Lord has blessed me with. His love is unfailing and He remains faithful!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
A Step of Obedience
As many of you have seen I am going to have the opportunity to go to Haiti over Spring break this year! I am definitely excited to see God work through that. I will be keeping you updated, but please be praying for the team as we begin to prepare for this trip.
The Lord is teaching me that it is through obedience to Him that we have faith. The two go hand in hand. There are so many ways God is demanding my obedience and it is through this that I am learning to depend on Him for strength. It can be so easy to hand over one area of our lives to God, but to hand over them all takes complete trust in the Lord. For me I haven't been able to just hand it all over to Him over night, it's been a continuous process of prayer and obedience to Him. I so often want to have control and to know what the plan is, but God doesn't work that way. He asks us to let loose the reigns and to not create back up plans for our life. When we are in an intimate relationship with our Father we don't need a back up plan. It is a matter of letting go and listening to God that we will learn to be obedient to him. This can be extremely difficult especially when the world tells us something completely different, but no matter what voices are around us it is our choice as to who we will listen to. We have the ability and the privilege to live a life set apart for Christ. This may require waiting seasons, but it is through those times that God proves faithful. We may wait months even years for something, but no matter how long we wait it is God's plan that is best and his timing that is perfect. Waiting isn't a new concept, it is something we see over and over in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah waited for God to bless them with a baby and He did. We see patience in Joseph's life when his brothers sold him into slavery he remained patient and God made him a leader over his people. We may not know what it is God is doing right now as he is asking us to wait, but He knows what He is doing therefore we don't have to! And as we wait we grow to know Christ more and to desire Him more. If he gave us everything we wanted right now we wouldn't have to be dependent on Him, this is why He makes us wait. He wants to be first in our lives and if he isn't first in our lives now then how would he ever become first in our lives if he gave us everything we wanted.
The Lord is so good! I see this in my own life as well as in the lives of others. God has blessed me with some incredible friends who lead by example and who encourage me on a daily basis. I feel extremely grateful to be at Olivet and to be able to know people who live a life that is dedicated to Christ.
The Lord is teaching me that it is through obedience to Him that we have faith. The two go hand in hand. There are so many ways God is demanding my obedience and it is through this that I am learning to depend on Him for strength. It can be so easy to hand over one area of our lives to God, but to hand over them all takes complete trust in the Lord. For me I haven't been able to just hand it all over to Him over night, it's been a continuous process of prayer and obedience to Him. I so often want to have control and to know what the plan is, but God doesn't work that way. He asks us to let loose the reigns and to not create back up plans for our life. When we are in an intimate relationship with our Father we don't need a back up plan. It is a matter of letting go and listening to God that we will learn to be obedient to him. This can be extremely difficult especially when the world tells us something completely different, but no matter what voices are around us it is our choice as to who we will listen to. We have the ability and the privilege to live a life set apart for Christ. This may require waiting seasons, but it is through those times that God proves faithful. We may wait months even years for something, but no matter how long we wait it is God's plan that is best and his timing that is perfect. Waiting isn't a new concept, it is something we see over and over in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah waited for God to bless them with a baby and He did. We see patience in Joseph's life when his brothers sold him into slavery he remained patient and God made him a leader over his people. We may not know what it is God is doing right now as he is asking us to wait, but He knows what He is doing therefore we don't have to! And as we wait we grow to know Christ more and to desire Him more. If he gave us everything we wanted right now we wouldn't have to be dependent on Him, this is why He makes us wait. He wants to be first in our lives and if he isn't first in our lives now then how would he ever become first in our lives if he gave us everything we wanted.
The Lord is so good! I see this in my own life as well as in the lives of others. God has blessed me with some incredible friends who lead by example and who encourage me on a daily basis. I feel extremely grateful to be at Olivet and to be able to know people who live a life that is dedicated to Christ.
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