43 days!

We are down to 43 days...I can't wait! Today was a busy day..lots of things to be done! I had my night class, which is Introduction to Special Education..which, the more I learn, the more I am inclined to pursue special education! I think that I would love the challenge!

Always something to do

I just cant get over the fact that there is always something to do...I am learning that if I want free time I have to make it. I have to learn to build it into my schedule! Otherwise, if I let my schedule control my life, I will never have anytime to myself. Things are getting so busy with finals just around the corner! I can't believe just how soon this year is going to be over! A little challenging thought for today is this : Love isn't love until you give it away!

Challenges :)

45 days...45 days until I leave for Mali, Africa! I am so excited! I just feel like God is going to give me a lot of opportunities to serve Him! Lately, He has been showing Himself to me through my devotions. He is constantly reminding me that He is always there and that He has a purpose for everything! Although sometimes it is hard to understand why things happen, I know that I have to keep on keeping on and just trust that He knows best! Some verses that have really challenged me lately are

*Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

*Philippains 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."

Giving

I still have not figured out why it is so hard for me to make time to blog! I always have intentions of doing it, but seem to fail at following those through more often than not...but I need to start practicing trying to blog/journal everyday, because I am planning on keeping an online blog while I am in Africa! I am leaving in 48days:) the count down is on! Here is a little devotional I found, that really challenged me!

"Give and it shall be given unto you." - Luke 6:38
The Law of Reciprocity
Mother Teresa wrote" One night a man came to our house and said, "There's a family of eight children who haven't eaten for days.' I took some food and went to see them. When I got there I saw the faces of little children disfigured by malnutrition. There was no sadness there, just the pain of hunger. I gave a sack of rice to the mother. She kept one half and went out carrying the other. When she came back I asked, 'Where did you go?' She answered, "To my neighbors, they're hungry also.' I wasn't surprised that she gave, the poor are usually very generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we're suffering we are so focused on our own problems that we have no time for others." That's the law of reciprocity!
It teaches you that:
1)You can give your way to great blessing. Jesus said: "Give, and it shall be given unto you"(Luke 6:38). No seed is too little to multiply if you're willing to sow it. (2)What you do for others determines what God does for you. "Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord"(Eph 6:8). (3)Your gift is the key to your future, but you must be willing to give it. "How?" you ask. By finding a cause greater than yourself and pouring your life into it! When you do that you discover two things: (a) It's okay to acknowledge your limitations as long as you don't build your life around them. (b) That success begins by focusing on what you have, not on what you don't!

A good God

I am so thankful that we have a good God! I just went out with a friend this morning for brunch, and was reminded of how good our God truly is! He may have funny ways of working things out, but He is in control and that is so awesome! I read a devotion this morning out of abook, from K-LOVE, that I have never used and just found it to be very encouraging, so I am going to post it on here!

"Staying the Course"
Endurance means "staying the course". But endurance is only a word until you have to deal with a strife-torn marriage, the long road back from bankruptcy, divorce or illness, the rebuilding of your life, or the required preparation of success in any field. It takes commitment to keep going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers "give up", and doubt says "it cant be done." That's when endurance takes on new meaning. It becomes your anchor in the storm, your compass in times of confusion, and the head of steam that gets you up the next hill.

Remember, God knows when to discontinue a trial because its purpose has been fulfilled. And He gives us 2 great promises: (1)His comforting presence. (2)The assurance that He wont permit more pressure than we can handle.

But there's another reason- others are watching! Paul writes, "People are watching us as we stay at our post...working hard, working late, working without eating; with a pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness and honest love; when we're telling the truth...when God's showing His power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God...immersed in tears yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing at all, having it all" (1Cor. 6:1-10). That's called "staying the course."

*Challenge- Stay strong and live life "staying on the course"

Overwhelmed

It seems to me that life really never does slow down. I am feeling quite overwhelmed right now, because I have so much to do, and so many people relying on me. I love to be dependable, but sometimes it is so hard to stay on top of everything. I have decided that on Sunday, I am going to take the day and get away and plan out the next 78days...because that is when I leave for Africa. I know that I cant plan everything, God is in control, but I need to sit down and look through all of my syllabi. Oh craziness! I cannot wait for Sunday, I just need a day to refocus and reprioritize my life. :)

Blogging--My Prince Charming

I feel like I am horrible at blogging...it is so funny, because I love writing, and I tend to be online all the time, yet I have problems actually writing something on this page:) Anyway, I decided that I would write something about what is consuming my thoughts as of right now. I just had the girls from the youth group I help at sleepover in the dorms last night and they all just left. Last night we used my "Book of Questions" to stimulate conversation, and it was amazing. We talked a lot about relationships and what we want to get out of them, and what we should put into them. I realized that I really respect guys who are honest about their feelings, and who arent afraid to tell you how they feel. There are so many things that I want in a guy. The particular question asked for my top 3, and which are as follows: 1) Must have a personal relationship with Christ. 2) Must love children, and want some of his own :). 3) Must appreciate me for me, and cherish me while holding me accountable, always challenging me spiritually and encouraging me as well! There are so many more, but those would be the top 3ish:) I know that I just have to wait on God, and trust that He will provide me with my prince charming when the timing is just right :)