Used To Do It Too

The past week, this song has been going through my head and I really like it a lot. I have really been challenged this month to just be thankful for what I have and how much of a challenge it is to be thankful. I used to complain all the time and did not want to be thankful always. I think that

I need to challenge others.

What are you thankful for?

There are many things that I am so thankful for... I was asked to give a 30 second spiel on what I am thankful for on Sunday. As I sat down to think about it, I began to realize that I have so many things to be thankful for...which is why I asked what are you thankful for? I am thankful for the plan God has for my life and how he brought me to my church. I am thankful for my leaders that he placed in my life to help me grow and who refine me. I am thankful for how God placed me at Grand View so I could help share the Good News of Jesus with people. I am thankful for the ability to share the gospel with others and see them grow. I am thankful for God's calling and purpose for my life. I am thankful for my salvation from Jesus and that I am a child of God. I am thankful for brothers and sisters who always have my back. I am thankful for how much the Lord has taught me in the last year and how much he still wants to teach me. I am thankful for how God always provides in every situation. I am thankful for my roommates who I have learned a lot from these past years and how He placed each one in my life for a specific reason. I am thankful for many things but the one thing I am so truly thankful for is how much God is Faithful. He is faithful no matter what happens in my life.

Things Accomplished

In this past week so far, I have been able to catch up on drawings. I am so thankful that I have not had the urge to go on facebook for almost a week. It has been a great experience and I have completed many tasks that I had been putting off. I am so excited for this weekend because I have a wedding on Friday, church Saturday, and Celebration Sunday on Sunday. I am so excited because I will be able to catch up with people who I don't see very often. I am also excited for this weekend because I get to a part of an event where people dress up as Princesses and Pirates. This weekend is going to be busy but I am prepared and ready.

Media Fast

This week I decided to go on a media fast from Facebook. I decided to start on Friday the 30th and not be on it for one week. One of my friends decided to do this and i think it is a great idea. I think with not going on Facebook for one week, I will be able to get many projects accomplished that I have been wanting to work on. I am excited to see how much of a difference it will make in my life. If you need to get a hold of me, use my email, call, or text me. I am also fasting from watching Grey's anatomy and Private Practice because they take up time. Have a great weekend!

Down The Road

This month has flown by quickly. I remember counting down the days until my birthday and since my birthday was yesterday, it feels weird. I am thanking Jesus for keeping the weather warm enough so it did not snow on my birthday. This month has been full of many challenges, but God has been using them to grow me. I am thankful that God knows our hearts and thoughts before we do because He loves His children. I have been able to watch God change lives this month. A woman from my parent's church has been on an adoption journey for awhile now and the LORD finally answered their prayers with a little girl. I am so glad that God is faithful and has better plans in store for us than we could ever imagine. I am so glad that He has great plans for my life. I am going on a trip in December to see my brother and his family for an extended time and I am truly blessed because I know God will use me on this trip. I also am preparing to write support letters to raise funds and prayer support for a mission trip in March with my church. I am so excited to see how God is going to use me on this trip. I am excited to see what happens in November and the time leading up to the trip.

Change

This month has been about changes. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is starting to cool down, family is going on vacation, friends are still challenging me, and God is changing me. This weekend, I will be attending a conference called FOCUS. I am so excited to be around brothers and sisters who will help me grow. I am looking forward to building relationships and having fun learning more about Jesus. In a little over a week, I am going to be taking a trip with some friends to northern Iowa. I am excited to spend some time with these women because they challenge me to live for Jesus. This time is going to be so fun because we will be able to get to know one another better. More to come later this month

Just Run

Over the last month, I have been challenged by brothers and sisters. It has been difficult but at the same time very rewarding. I have enjoyed being pushed out of my comfort zone! I have seen so many things answered and so many rewards. That's all for now

God's Timing

As I reflect on the past two weeks, I am so encouraged by God. I decided towards the end of July that I would stop running from God's calling to go to Spain for a mission trip with my church in Des Moines. I am so excited for this because I know it is what God wants me to do with my life. He has called me to stay in Des Moines and love my family here. I was a little leary to go back to Grand View this week, because I just wanted to travel this school year. God decided to tell me to stay at GV towards the end of July as well. I am working on being content with living in Des Moines and giving up my desire to go all over the U.S. this fall and spring. God has a purpose and plan for me to be at Grand View and I am waiting to see what he has in store. As I was listening to a song this morning, I was super encouraged by the words. Here's a little excerpt from the song "I Will Go" by Starfield:
Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You've poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change

Have a great weekend!

Refine Me LORD

As I reflect on this coming week, I am slowly realizing the fact of how much God is doing in my life and the lives of everyone around me. In just a few short days, I will be seeing my oldest brother for the first time in three years. As I was thinking about this yesterday, I began to think about what I was going to say or do when I see him. I was spending the day by myself most of the day yesterday and spending it with Jesus. I began to get scared to see my brother because I have no idea how he is going to respond. I decided to just pray and talk with some people and they challenged me to pray about it and talk to a leader. I am praying that my life and the change in me will be evident to my family on Friday as I spend the day with them. I am trusting God and that He will guide me all day on Friday. I am nervous but excited at the same time.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

You're The Only Hope For This Heart

In the last week, my life has been so crazy! My parents came up last Wednesday and we went to lunch together and ran some errands. It was nice to see them and spend time with them because we don't see each other very often. I am very thankful for them and their willingness to make a drive to see me. I love the time I have with them because it is so precious. The week ended on a good note though, because I spent time in prayer with my biblestudy last night. It was so encouraging to see who I was going to be laboring with for the next year of my life. Throughout the day yesterday, I was super encouraged by the LORD because he was guiding my steps and kept throwing surprises at me. My morning started out rough, but progressively got better. I hung out with a good friend for a few hours and it was so nice to be challenged and encouraged by her. I am so thankful for Jenny and how much she has built into my life, and it was so much fun to hang out with her and Owen. I was so thankful for our time and how much it encouraged me. The rest of my day just kept surprising me, and it was exciting. I went home and hung out with a roommate and our friend Katie, while we watched "Little Women" and then my friend Cara asked if she could take me to dinner. I love spending time with these women and being encouraged daily by them. After dinner, Cara and I were headed out of the restaurant and our server stopped us to talk because we had left a tract on the table. He proceeded to tell us that he knew he was going to heaven when he died, and that blew us away. God was so good about surprising me throughout the day. After biblestudy, I decided to head to campus and hang out with my friend Julia. It was so sweet because I not only got to see Julia, I also saw my friend Nicolette and it was so good to talk with them. God has been surprising me and it has been so great, because he has been providing this week like crazy.

I have a reason to Worship

The last few days I have been listening to the song "Desert Song" by Hillsong. It talks about prayer and trusting the Lord. In the last couple of months I have had to trust that God has a plan for me and I can't make my plans because God will always change them. It has been so encouraging to have brothers and sisters whom I pray with and trust alot, to see God use them in my life has challenged me! God is so good and he answers prayer no matter what. I am trusting God with my steps, rather than saying I don't understand or why is this happening. God has my future planned and I am ready for it no matter what happens.

God's Will

I have been thinking about what God's will for my life is and I have come to the conclusion that it is something far bigger than I can imagine. Living in Des Moines this summer has been so rewarding. The trials I have gone through have made me stronger and the ones that are happening now have been growing me. The trials are gonna be worth it because Christ knows what needs to happen. I think that whatever happens will grow me and teach me.

Whirlwinds Of Wisdom

Today I was thinking about how much God teaches us and sometimes we don't realize it. I was thinking how much God breaks us to build us up. He puts us through trials and we can either call on Him for help; or try to do it ourself. I was thinking about my life thus far in knowing Christ. So many things have changed and it hasn't always been fun. I was looking at a faithwalkers video, and the main singer had a question for the group. It went like this:

Who do you want to be in Christ? There were three choices and we needed to make a decision.
1) Those who have decided to follow Christ and never look back
2) Those who have decided to follow Christ and can't stop looking back
3) Those who have not decided

I want to be the person who has decided and never looks back.

That's all for now

Family TIme

This weekend I am returning to my hometown for a family reunion. I am so excited to see my family, but a little wary to go. I am excited to show them how much I have changed. God is so good and he is constantly working in lives around me. I am so excited to camp out and take many photos. Family is super important to me, but I love living for Christ and not being around my hometown very often. I love new experiences and challenges, and am excited to see what happens in the next month. More to come later....

Accomplishments

Today I was thinking about how much my life has changed in three years. In three years, I have put my faith in Christ, moved and made Des Moines my permanent location, finished three years of school, shared the gospel with numerous people (never thought I would do that), coached soccer, and am getting my license. I have been through so much, but Christ has placed me where I am and I am thankful for the priviledge to be a part of His great plan for my life. I am blessed to be surrounded by many people who love me and want what is best for me. I am daily challenged by the Lord to get out of my comfort zone. More to come later....