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I can hear you asking now, "WHAT is elementary?" The answer: God's greatness, fullness and all-around wonderfulness! Last week, I received a letter in my school mailbox from the International Studies program. The letter said that I qualitfy for an international studies program in Senegal, Africa that would take place from June 6 through July 6, 2008. This program is only open to English and history education majors, which at my college narrows it down to 17 people. The program is to help student build their curricula for their classrooms. Two FC students are chosen in addition to the 10 other members from the FC faculty and K-12 educators from county. This program sounds pretty cool, anyway, don't you think? Well, it gets even better than that.
Not only would I get to spend an entire month in Africa building my curricula for my classroom, but I would also get to go for almost completely FREE!!! If we get this grant that we applied for and I get accepted as one of the two FC students, I would only have to pay $200 plus passport and medical fees. THAT'S IT!!! That means about $4,000 of all the fees would be paid for!!!! As you can see, I'm really excited about this program and am hoping that I will be accepted. So, if you don't mind, please keep me in your prayers as I write my application form and also that the grant is accepted. But I don't have any doubt that it won't happen because GOD IS GOOD!!! :D Later, all! :D
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Hello all!
I know it's been a while. School just started about a month ago, so I've been very busy trying to get everything organized. Just so you know, school is off to a wonderful start! I'm very excited to see what comes of this year; I truly believe this will be the best year yet! :D
This blog, however, is not about school. Today, I went over to my pastor's house and ate dinner with them. It was a truly beautiful ending to a beautiful day! (The chuch service this morning is what started it off so beautifully---Nice preaching, John and Lisa!) Anyway, after we got done playing cards and dice (I won once!), Pastor Mary and I got a chance to talk while Pastor Duane slept--uh em, I mean, "watched" the Colts' game. ;-) It was a truly wonderful talk. I went over there just expecting to have a good time and enjoy their company, but it ended up being so much more than that. Instead of just that, I got a really nice long talk with Pastor Mary about some issues in my life that haven't been dealt with to the extent that they needed to be dealt with. Without going into details, just know that it was AMAZING. I got set free from a lot of areas that REALLY needed set free. It feels so different; for once, my soul feel truly peaceful!
For the first time, I not only realize with my head, but I also realize with my heart that God truly does love me and wants the best for me. Isn't that awesome! I would like to say that this breakthrough has happened all at once, but believe me, it hasn't. It's been a process over the last couple of years. I had to take one step in faith, and then God would stretch me to take another step. It wasn't easy, but now it's done. I know I'll have to be careful that my thoughts stay where they are right now so as not to give the enemy ground, but I'm willing and ready to take on the fight this time. Devil, you ain't gettin' back in this place no more! :D
My challenge to you is that if you are going through a hard time or are in a place where you don't ever think that God can pull you out, rest assured that He CAN and He WILL. I was held back by shame and condemnation for a long time, but don't let that stop you. Just as I walked thorugh that and finally told someone who I knew could help and hold me accountable, know that God will do the same for you. Don't keep it to yourself. Tell someone who you trust and can help you and move on with your life. It'll be hard, but it's soooooo worth it! All right, everyone, have a great night. I gotta go start my homework now. Later! :D
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. . . MORE changes!
Doesn't it always seem strange that God moves in cycles? One minute you are crying out to God for more: more change, more this, more that. The next minute, you're crying because He finally did bring change--the hard way. There's no way around it, when God transitions us, it hurts. During the growth, I enjoy the term "Yuck" a lot and tend to get rather upset at God. However, once I get through the worst of it, I'm able to sit back and smile a little bit. My life has completely changed this summer forever. Most of the changes have been for the better, even though I've been thrown some pretty big curve balls.
My latest change would be that in the field of sports. I'm no longer playing volleyball. For those of you who know me, you know how much that sport means to me. You've seen the shirts that say, "It's not a sport; it's a way of life." Well, it's true for me. Since I was ten years old, I have sacrificed almost everything to play the game. Recently, though, God spoke to me and told me it's time to move on. There are numerous reasons other than God telling me to quit, but He's the ultimate reason why I've decided to leave my favorite sport behind. It's the right time and the right season to do it. Last Saturday, I had my closure. (My best friend Tara said it sounded like I was burying my favorite pet, and in a way I am!) Right after I write this blog, I'm calling my coach to finalize the quitting. (I already told my family, which was much harder than it will be to tell my coach.) It's tough in a way, but on the other hand, I know it's the right thing to do.
God has already spoken to me about things I need to change in my life--about pirorities I need to change--which is why I'm quitting. He's also shown me what's going to happen now that I have made a decision to completely follow Him. In fact, I already feel the change within myself. No longer do I feel like a girl living in the past. No longer do I feel myself searching in the dark. Not that I didn't feel like I didn't have a purpose before, but now I can see where God is taking me. I can--just a little bit--see how He's taking me there, too. What I thought was a failure, He has turned into precious gems and friutfullness. I finally feel the dust of the past shaking off now it's time for the waters to come to wash away the dust. The rain is coming. The rain is coming.
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There have been things that have been going on in my life right now that have been very hard to handle. (Sorry, I can't go into detail yet-- There are still a couple of people I need to talk to personally before the information goes "mychurch.") Well, I was talking with a close friend yesterday who is also going through a rough time. We realized that instead of complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves that we needed to change our attitude. As a result, we decided to play the "Glad" game. For those of you who have never read the book "Pollyanna" (which is a MUST for every girl!), the main character Pollyanna makes up a game called the "Glad" game. In this game, whenever Pollyanna feels sad, she thinks of something for which she is glad. I've decided to start the game on here. Here is my top ten list for which I am most glad for tonight. I encourage you to post your own list. Beware, though: Only play this game if you want to feel better aftwerwards! Here's my list:
I'm glad that . . .
1. I'm healthy
2. Most of my family is healthy
3. I got to spend time playing with my niece and nephew today
4. I got a hug from my someone today
5. My closest friend got to spend the night last night instead of just stopping by like she planned
6. I get to spend another day with my brother and his family tomorrow as we head to the lake
7. My aunt let us borrow her car so that we could afford to drive to my brother's house today
8. I have understanding and caring relatives
9. God is teaching me to have joy in all circumstances
10. It's quiet because everybody is in bed--which means I get some time to myself! :D
Okay, now it's your turn . . .What are you most glad for?
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Do you ever have those times when you want to tell God, "Hey, that's it. I just can't handle this anymore!" Do you ever have those times when you just want to throw the towel in and say, "You know what, I don't care anymore. I'm giving up because I don't want to fight anymore." If you're having those thoughts right now, DON'T GIVE UP!!! I had a friend a few months ago who was going through one of the toughest times in her life. She asked me why things always happend to her (and trust me, things usually do happen to her). I remember telling her that the people who have the biggest call on their life go through the most traumatic experiences in their life. It's the devil's way of trying to stop them. So maybe you're going through one of the hardest times in your life. I know I am. But you know what? We can't let the enemy win. The harder we get hit, the more we should want to get up and fight again. . .and fight harder.
Have you ever see the movie Rudy? There's a scene where Rudy, a very short, unathletic football player is treated like a dummy by the first string Notre Dame football players. He gets tackled left and right. He even gets severely injured a couple of times. But no matter how hard or how many times Rudy gets tackled, he jumps right back up and goes at the bigger players again just so he has a chance to dress for the first string team one time. We should be like Rudy. No matter how many times we get hit, we gotta get up again. Don't let this be a time when you give up on God or your faith. CHOOSE to not give up. CHOOSE to fight harder. CHOOSE to overcome and win. CHOOSE to be victorious today.
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