Freshman Year Words

I like looking back, savoring the past and anticipating the future. Frequently I have been asked, "how was your first year of college?' That is extremely hard to sum up in words. But here are a few that will attempt to try.

Growth. They say college is a time of growth. Really, any season in your life is a time of growth, if you make it one. This year has been a season of growth and change, becoming more aware of God, the world, and myself.

Here is Home. When you leave home, you realize how much it means to you. Leaving my church family, my immediate family, my close friends was hard. A light-blue room shared with a sister was exchanged for a white cinder-block room and an unfamiliar P-W3. The wonderful thing was that slowly, creeping in, CCC became home as well. Naples is home, but school is home as well, which is a beautiful dissonance.

Study, Study. You go to college to get an education, to broaden horizons, to be exposed to new ideas. I am very thankful to go to a school that gives me a liberal-arts education, has a faculty that cares for their students, and pushes me to learn, in the full sense of the word. I genuinely enjoyed all of my classes that I took this year, which is a great privilege. They required memorization, they required work, a fair share of late nights and some early mornings. It was valuable because I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with a community of learners, learn from instructors that are skilled in their subject area, and reflect and apply the information to my own life. I am excited for the future; another year to learn new things, reflect on them and work well.

Plans Change. Some advice that is very commonly tossed around is 'you have time to decide your major'. Because I started school with transfer credits, fully intending to finish school in three years, I genuinely believed I could not change anything. But happily, I was shown otherwise. You might change a minor. I did (I added Music, and could not be more excited about that choice). You may contemplate changing your major. It's okay. If you already know what you are passionate about and skilled in, that's wonderful. But if not, it's all right. Allow God to show you His good plans for you, which will often call for a rearranging of yours.

January 8th Turned My World Upside-Down. There is a lot I could say about this one. But it will be brief. The long and short of it is, that Wednesday I found out, through blood lab results, that I had a chronic illness. Not something I expected to hear, to put it mildly. The collection of the next few days included an ER visit, turbulent thoughts, missed classes, and a doctor appointment. The diagnosis was diabetes. Though this definitely changed my semester, it ultimately changed my life. It made me realize I do not have control. It made me realize that I need to take careful care of my body. It made me realize that when I am weak, He is strong (2 Cor. 12:8-10). Right now I am on insulin injections, monitoring my blood-glucose level regularly and overall doing better. However, it is a continuous challenge, both good and difficult, and I would so appreciate your continued prayers. Though it is something unexpected and unchosen, God has given it to me and continues to use it for His glory and my good. It has brought many blessings into my life and He continues to give daily grace.
Adventures, Small & Large
Hilarious and wonderful things happen at school. They are not limited to dying Easter eggs at 2 in the morning, all sorts of crazy discussions with the lovely ladies of Unit W, getting horribly lost whenever I tried to drive somewhere distant, giving myself a large dose of the wrong medicine (do. not. do. that.), talking with friends for five hours straight about nothing and everything, conducting the orchestra, dislocating my poor friend's toe on a wild and muddy dash across the soccer field, impromptu attending concerts, retreating to the bookstore for an entire day of solitude, exploring near and far, and generally enjoying new things.
He is Faithful.
God's great faithfulness and sovereignty was seen. He was faithful to place me at a school, to surround me with people who love, teach and support, to place my family close when I needed them. He was faithful to bring new days. He was faithful to give me a church body to grow with, grace when days were hard, a peace that endures, provision in work and finances, motivation to read the Word, calm when I was sad, people to share the Gospel with, people to invest in, and people who invested selflessly in me. "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them ever sing of joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield." {Psalm 5:11-12}.

A Reason Not to Fear

Do you need a reason not to fear? I did recently. I start college tomorrow, and was nervous about starting something so new. Then I read Joshua 1:1-9.

Verses 8 & 9 seemed especially illuminating for me.


"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

What do I need to do? Meditate on God's Word, so I can follow it. Then I will be prosperous and have sucess in the Lord's eyes.

Another command. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed." I am not to fear, and why? "because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

That is my reason not to be afraid.

High 5 for Friday

Here are a few great things about my week {there were a lot - it was a full week!)
1. I have been reading the book of Ephesians, just into the first few chapters.  It is really wonderful and I am noticing God's scandalous grace more & more!

2. This morning I finished this book - The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I have read it through twice, and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. It is a great read, full of good character development and historical content. Book review coming soon!

 3. I made that chocolate cake again. It was delicious, as always. The recipe can be found here.
4. I also had the opportunity to teach Outfitters (our kids bible study) at church. This is something I have been doing since probably my junior year of high school. It was bittersweet thinking that it is one of the last times I might teach for a while! While prepping the lesson I felt pretty nervous and unsettled. But then I was encouraged by Isaiah 55 - "my word shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it". Even when I might fail, God's Word will always succeed!

 

{image via}

5. Last but not least, I successfully put in my contacts (with help) for the first time! If you were wondering what I look like sans spectacles, see below.

 

And that's that. Thanks for reading! What's been good about your week?

(linking up with Lauren at High 5 For Friday)

Are You a Fan of Delicious (Chocolate) Flavor?

The best chocolate cake.
Ever.










via
I enjoy chocolate cake, and I also have a few recipes that I have tried and liked. However, this is definitely the best.  What makes it stand out from the crowd is cocoa powder for a rich chocolate flavor, coffee to bring that flavor out, and buttermilk to make it moist. The directions are quick and easy to follow, and can be found here. In short, it's wonderful. In fact, even one of my friends who doesn't like chocolate or cake asked for the recipe). I have made it twice and it has been quickly consumed both times. You should go and make some too.

  

"my power is made perfect in weakness."

//

Recently I have had the opportunity to teach at church more. During the school year I taught quite frequently, at Good News Clubs or in children's bible study, but then I had a break. Now I have resumed, and God has been reminding me to rely on Him. I have been reminded of the truth that no insightful teaching, no truth would come from me, but from the Word of God. I was reading 1 Corinthians 3, and Paul is telling about how he spoke his message.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

"And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

And then again in  chapter 3 verse 7:

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

wow. light bulb moment. 

This was not something that I hadn't heard before, but it was much-needed wisdom for my specific situation. God gives me the opportunity and the ability to plant and water, but that's where my job ends.It isn't anything. God gives growth - that's what's important. He brings conviction and change. I cannot. 

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:9-11

So now I am remembering that I do not have to rely on my wisdom, but in the power of God. That grace is enough. That His power is perfected in my weakness. That I can boast in my weaknesses, so I can receive His strength. That weakness is better than strength.

Manifesto:: a written statement declaring the intentions of the issuer

Becuase this is the very first post on my blog, I wasn't sure what to write. I settled on a manifesto. A purpose.

to encourage - I want to share what God is teaching me, and how.

to inform - namely, to write about life happenings.

to educate - I like to learn, and want to share what I am learning at the moment. This might take the form of recipes, projects, reading recommendations or personal writing.

Obviously this will probably change as time goes on, but as I look to a beginning, it seems like a good place to start. Happy reading!