Week 1

I have to say that this past week has been one of the craziest weeks I've experienced, even more crazy than my first week at Taylor. We had our welcome dinner last Tuesday night. On Wednesday and Thursday we had "orientation" of sorts...although I can honestly say I'm not really sure what I got oriented on...except for general stuff....which is orientation I guess. Friday-Sunday we were up at Horn Creek for a retreat. At FLI we are split into "Life Groups" and are with these groups throughout the semester. I really like my group. Honestly. We're all so different yet work so well together! In our life groups we did team building exercises such as: putting everyone through a spider web, musical chairs, and this weird lava block game. Fantastic bonding. :)

Yesterday and today we had leadership intensive discussions and activities. I think the hardest one for me was the one of affirmation. We had a partner and picked words that we could use to affirm them...and seriously I don't handle compliments well so it was really hard for me to sit and listen to what Joy had to say. The past couple days have been really stretching-giving us puzzle pieces for the semester.

My roommates are legit. That's all I have to say. That girl. :)

Off to read!

COLORADO!

I cannot believe that I am finally here. I'm living in CO for the semester and I am beyond excited. God keeps letting funds show up, which is amazing. Today I moved into my new apartment. :) The girls are awesome and we're all really similar which is great! All night owls, sarcastic, and all that jazz. Super enjoyable.

It's been an interesting couple of weeks leading up to this point, but I'm very thankful for them. I've felt super encouraged lately.

More to blog later...I need to finish unpacking!

Two weeks...

I'm supposed to be leaving in two weeks. I have so many emotions and feelings about it though. On one hand, I'm kind of freaking out a bit because I'm not sure where the rest of the money I need is going to come from. I've been praying like mad about it. In some ways I wonder if I should have found a fourth job this summer...but really. I don't know what else I could have done. Anyway. Those of you following this, please pray that if it is in God's will for me to attend Focus, that the money will show up. I really feel like it's where I'm supposed to be, but right now it is semi-discouraging.

I will lean on God.

I love these verses:

Faith and Endurance

2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

9 Believers who are[b] poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[d] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[e] 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.[f]

Pure

I love this song. (Click the title of this post: Pure) This song is my prayer, as the next five weeks fly by. I have about $4,500 left to raise for the fall...which scares me but at the same time excites me because it will be cool to see God show up. :) I'm putting the finishing touches on two different fundraisers, so I'll have information on that linked to this blog pretty soon.

Pure

Your love is pure, Your love is precious
Your love is all I need
Your love surrounds me, Your love as- tounds me
Your love is everything

I run to You when my heart is weak
I cling to You, You're all I seek
It's my heart's desire to be close to You
Here in Your arms I'll find my strength

Everything I want, everything I hope in
Everything my heart cries out for
Everything I want, everything I hope in
Everything my heart cries out for

Timeline

I have not posted in two weeks. This is ridiculous. Although for the past two weeks I've been working over 40 hours a week...I got a third job! HUGE blessing that I'm seriously so thankful for. This whole money thing is a stresser but I have full faith in God that things are going to work out. What is my newer job? Working in the cornfield for a plant/chemical research company. Oh what an adventure it has been. I actually have liked it a bit. Crazy, I know. :)

Things that are new:

-I'm super pumped about the fact that my best friend is home. Like, you guys, she has been such a HUGE influence in my life and over my relationship with Christ. It's been a fantastic blessing to have her over the past 5 years in my life.
-Another one of my friends and I are in the process of starting a new blog. We're really excited about it!! More details later.
-Resonate is in a week!!! I LOVE THIS MINISTRY. I have learned so much being a part of it over the past year-wether I'm singing, doing art, or just participating. I love it. Here's some more details about it. (I love love love the vision.)

The Vision:
To see the local church connecting from all over the northern IL area to glorify God and tell of his renown (Isaiah 26:8).

It's a time to encounter our great God who is Father, Son and Spirit. It's not a concert, Jesus is the only One who will get the praise of our mouths once the night is over (Psalm 115).

-I'M LEAVING IN SIX WEEKS!!!! (freaking out just a bit.)
-I'm putting the finishing touches on a few fundraising things. I'm super thankful for all the ideas people have given me and those who have been willing to help me out. I've been learning so much about community in the body of Christ. ::sigh:: I just love my life with Jesus.

Well. I guess another newish thing is this: I will see my sister in about 4 weeks...which I'm beyond excited for. It has been really hard not having her around for the past year. I haven't really gotten to spend any quality time with her since last August except for when she was home for Christmas. (I mean, I also saw her in March for a total of probably 4 hours when she was home for a couple days...I just happened to be headed to Taylor for a friend's senior art show...it was bittersweet.) I miss that girl so much. I've probably already said that...but really. If you know her, you'd miss her too. :)

Check out these verses!! (These are my verses for the summer and they're also the heart verses for Resonate this month!)

"1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside [throw off] every encumbrance [everything that hinders] and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2fixing our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "

hebrews 12:1-3

So fantastic. :)

Purpose Driven Life

New project. 40 days of reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. I'm on day 3, so I'm kind of nervous about actually completing this task, because honestly I struggle with daily reading tasks. Like my Bible for instance. I bought the Bible in 90 Days last summer...I think I'm on day 7. But, that's also something I'm working on reading through. :) I'm excited.

Here's my nugget of truth for the day:

"Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible Says, 'There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.' 1 John 4:18." -Rick Warren

A couple of weeks ago I realized I struggle with fear. The fear of accomplishing things. Everything from making it to Colorado this fall to the littlest thing of actually getting my room clean and keeping it that way. I honestly hated that realization. Probably because I had been ignoring that part of me for a really long time, and always came up with excuses about why I don't accomplish things. Oh man. So much learning this summer. So much learning in life. :)

On another note: MY LIFELONGFRIEND IS COMING HOME TOMORROW!!!!!!!! I miss Allison. Yet, I'm so proud of her for what she has been doing since the end of May in Asia. I did not like the no communication thing. I do LOVE that she's out there serving Jesus. The woman is so mature in Christ and I miss her influence on me and I'm kinda jealous of the people she was getting to hang out with. BUT. God was USING her. I can't wait to hear stories. Oh life. :)

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