9/15/06

It's just another Sunday that leads to Monday for me, but we prayed for a woman who is leaving to minister to Morocco today. It's not just "another" Sunday--it could be her last. It could be the Sunday that fully equips her. It could be the Sunday that recharges her spirit.

This Sunday could be just "another" Sunday, or it could be "that" Sunday. The Sunday she'll never forget. "That" Sunday that changes Morocco. "That" Sunday that changes the world.

This Sunday could be "that" one for us all. Don't deny the power of unity, of congregations, of small groups. Where two or more are gathered with one heart in is name, HE WILL COME!!!

Be sober consistently.

hey Xanga-ers!

i sure miss this thing, but i just don't have time to do anything on here...well, except today apparently.

Quick recap of all the recent occurences....

I moved back to Baylor about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I love my room since i got to decorate it however i wanted and didn't have to coordinate it with anyone else!! My gals on my hall are pretty much amazing...we had our hall tradition yesterday and my girls rocked da house! 

Welcome week was fun since we had the serenade (which is my favorite). The guy halls come to the girls halls and they sing us a few songs and dance with us! some special girls even get carnations....I got two. haha! I officially felt old though...Since i'm like an "authority figure" i felt like i was a chaperone. booo. i still had a blast though! the other CLs and i ganged up on a few boys and danced all around him and freaked one of the mout BIG time! we convinced him to go mingle with the 600 girls from our hall, so he did. He even got a number from one of the girls! yay! Collins Angels saved the day!!

Today was church....so good. I really love that place! It was good to be able to sleep in too! today was my first Antioch-iversary. YAY! lifegroups start up this week along with classes..so i'm kinda excited.

i'm supposed to be officially changing my major soon to Interior Design!! you all should be proud, this is a big step forward for me!

I've already made so many new, amazing people that i can really see being my good friends this year, and maybe even beyond that! God is soo good in how we takes care of his kids! I don't know how people can live without Him, i know i couldn't do it well.

I love you all, and i pray that you all can find God on a deeper, intimate, exciting way. He longs to know you, just draw near to Him, and He'll draw near to you! It's two times as fast with Him, but YOU have to make the initiative, He's already made His on the cross.

Are you really devoted?

Prove it.

so i leave for Dallas Monday. I'll be gone til Friday night. Youth camp again--strange i thought that i was through with all that! I feel so old these days. My kids are always doing stupid stuff, and i'm just confused why they don't just think before they leap. Then i realize they're like 13. I don't remember being as naiive, but i know that i was. I still feel naive, but now i have responsibilities that make me more aware about safety and things like that. i just feel like a mom, as weird as that sounds. I didn't think that i would be able to be stern enough when necessary, but surprisingly i can. I can maintain authority, i can make smart decisions. I can do this. I am doing this. Even if i'm just a  youth pastor for three more weeks, i've learned so much. I just hope that i've influenced them to think deeper, to see clearer, to check themselves, to seek God. Above all i hope they yearn for Him more.

my heart just really aches for this group. I really don't want to leave quite yet. I have a week with them coming up, and maybe this will just give us some closure. God really did something in me this summer. i don't think i would have ever realized that i am a leader just by the way i live.

my perspective of life is changing....everyday.

i guess change really is good.

so, Guatemala fell through. It's strange, my flesh is angry, but my spirit just tells me that it's alright. I mean, God is in control--do i really need to worry that He is going to fulfil HIS promise? I'm ok, a little let-down, but that's just me being human! So many other things are happening other than that, and i'm actually a little relieved that i have one more week with my kids. it'll give us some closure time, i guess.

i've been reading a lot more than i usually do. It's strange how once you find a book that you really like, and no one is pressuring you to hurry it through, you enjoy it so much more. I don't think it'll be the same once im in Brit. Lit next semester, but i have already read all of those books in high school, so it'll just be review with a few exceptions, of course.

it all happens for a reason.

God is so amazing.

About 5 years ago i went to YFN a youth camp. it was my second year to attend, so the newness wasn't as strong as the first, but the expectation was so much stronger. I knew that i would meet with God. That year God spoke to me that i would go to Guatemala on a missions trip on the summer of my Sophomore year. I was soo excited, but i wasn't ready. I still had a lot of time before my sophomore year in High school--i was only in 7th grade at the time. All of those years passed, and a few more went by. My mom always talked about going to Guat during the summer, but we didn't have the money and it wouldn't have been a missions trip like i knew i should go on. Well i graduated from high school believing that i just missed God's voice.

i went on to college, and well i met new people from everywhere--including this one beautiful young lady named Mary-Kate. She had pictures hanging on her wall of native people, and i instinctively asked her where they were from. Coincidentally they were native Guatemalans. I remembered that camp experience and the firm belief i had in that prophecy. I talked to her a few times about Guatemala, and she told me that her church goes there pretty much every summer.

I finished my first year of college, and i still had that memory from camp tucked away in my heart even though i saw it impossible. I came home to help with the youth at my church. That pretty much is my summer job---except with out the physical benefits like money, but with greater spiritual benefits like family. I realized that this is the summer of my Sophomore year once again. I never thought about having it twice. my first two semesters i took the upper level spanishes required for my degree program, and did quite alright.

My friends and I decided to go to our beach cabin and just be together since we had been apart for a month already. Mary-Kate joined us, and somehow started talking about Guatemala again. She told me that not a lot of people were going this year, but a lot of the trip was paid for. So there are a few spots vacant, and asked if i was interested.

Of course i said yes, but then remembered my commitments to my church at home. I told her i would have to get the OK from my parents and from God. My heart leaped and rejoiced when i talked to my parents, and they didn't just tell me yes, they told me that i HAVE to go. Later that night is when i was praying about it, and God reminded me of His promise that summer when i was a kid with a passionate heart and a eager ear to hear His voice and commands. I was willing to do anything....even go to Guatemala.

He is faithful!