Next Year

This post is almost a sequel to my last post leaving right where I left off with the last one because I can't get it off my mind and summer is almost here. This summer is going to be amazing, having the opportunity to gain experience in the field that I plan to work in the rest of my life, full-time ministry. It is one thing to discuss theology and the true meaning of life, love, and service in a class room, but to truly use all the tools that I have gained is going to be amazing and overwhelming at the same time. While this summer is going to be so beneficial I also can't wait for next year to start up at school. I am almost completely done with all of my General Education classes (all but Literature), and now I get to take classes that actually pertain to my major - classes that I will enjoy a lot more than Biology and Art Appreciation. In addition to enjoying my studies more I am going to be an RA next year which will be absolutely amazing too. I can't wait to get to know everyone that I will be living with next year on my floor. I am already praying that I can have an impact on their lives as they greatly influence mine, and I hope that I will build lifelong friendships for the years to come because some of my closest friends I have met this year live on my hall. I know I say this all of the time but it is so true, God truly does know what is best for us in our lives, and he always pulls through for us, even in times that we don't understand what he is doing, and I can see that through all of my disappointments and joys that I have experienced this year.

Almost over..

My Freshman year of college has been the best year of my life, and yet it has flown by so fast. I just realized that classes end next week, and it seems like I just got here. I came to Lipscomb only knowing 1 student, and now I feel like I have spent my entire life with all of the people that I have come into contact here at school. It was a tough decision discovering where I wanted to go to college, but I know that I definitely made the right choice in choosing Lipscomb.

But now as school is winding down I cannot wait to be done with the school work, but I don't want to go home and leave all of my friends here for almost 4 months. I am so excited for this summer because of all the things that I am going to get to experience, but at the same time it is so hard to not be able to hang out with my friends in Nashville. The distance between Houston and Nashville has not been much of a factor until I am now realizing how far it truly is when you have great relationships built in both places. I will be excited to head home, but will greatly miss Nashville.

Sanctuary

Is such an awesome experience, it never ceases to amaze me almost every time I go. In case you don't know Sanctuary is a an hour of Worship on Thursday nights led by college students. I love the fact that almost a 1000 college students come together for the sole purpose of lifting up everything they have to God in praise and worship. The guys leading it are awesome, they have an amazing ability to get you excited and then also focus you in on reflecting on what God has done for you in your week. Another great thing about Sanctuary is that alot of my friends are always there. So afterwords I have the opportunity to just simply hang out and have fun with my friends in the middle of a very hectic school week, fellowship that is only found in Christ's Body. I simply do not understand how anyone can make it through this world without having a body of people who are striving for something so great.

Opportunity

About two weeks ago Stan asked me to speak at Hillsboro's 4:12 college ministry. I was super excited because I love being able to speak in front of people. So tonight I got the chance to talk about community, it went really well and I was so happy that I got the opportunity. It was encouraging to have a bunch of my friends who normally don't go to Hillsboro to support me. Then to add to the awesome night I played the best soccer game of my life tonight, we lost 6 - 4 but I played awesome and it was a ton of fun.

Another thing that I am super excited about is that I just found out that I have the opportunity to speak to my church back home before I start my internship at another church. I cannot wait for this summer because I beleive God has some amazing things in store for me.

The Weather

The weather outside is awesome right now, for the first time in the semester it is going to be consistenly above 60 degrees for the week... well atleast it looks that way haha. Growing up in Houston I always thought I enjoyed the cold weather, but that was before I lived in it for an extended period of time. I got sick and tired of wearing long pants because I love to wear shorts and be comfortable. In addition to the weather I have had such a good week this week, everything is going awesome - I'm ready for classes to wind down, and I'm excited about this summer but at the same time I don't want to leave everyone here and not see my friends from Lipscomb all summer.

As you might have guessed

I went on a retreat this weekend with Mark and his home church. It was a blast, I didn't know anyone before the retreat besides Mark but I met a bunch of fun kids and had a blast. It got me so excited for this summer, because I have been thinking about my internship this summer at the Conroe Church of Christ and how I only know 1 or 2 families there. But it was so easy to get to know the kids and families at the retreat, so I know I can get to know everyone this summer. I am so excited I cannot even explain how awesome this summer is going to be - and I can't wait to see how God shapes my life!

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

Retreat

Retreats are such a great idea. I get so caught up in everything that is going on in my life, whether it be school, relationships, sports, or anything it just gets crazy. I try to take every opportunity to get away and truly retreat from the stress that this world is filled with. The best thing to me is simply turning off my cell phone and getting away from the internet, and have time to build new relationships and focus on worshipping God with my life. Retreats are great because they provide time for one on one with God, which is something that I need alot more of than I actively pursue. I think I am surrounded by people all my life, but if I just look at Jesus I clearly see that he was in much higher demand than I am, he was always spending time with people, but he always had time to retreat and pray with God.

Luke 5:16: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Easter Sunday

Lately I have really enjoyed being at church. I worship with alot of really awesome people that are very close to me, so for one I have simply enjoyed fellowship with my family. God has definitely been working in my life these last couple of weeks and I am simply excited to see all that he has in store for me. It has been very easy for me to focus on worshiping him with my life and also during times of praise. Tonight I went to Ethos downtown for their Easter service which was simply amazing. The worship was incredible, I felt so close to God and was not distracted in the slightest, and then Dave Clayton preached about the empty tomb in John 20. He talked alot about Mary Magdeline's perspective, one that I had not previously looked into much. All of this came together during the service and I began to just think about how truly awesome it is that we serve a risen savior. I serve the only God that is actually alive, the only God who gave everything he had for me, the only God who truly loves me, the only God that actually exists. Just the simple knowledge that my God is alive and working is what has me so charged right now.

The Gospel

On Tuesday Lipscomb held a youth minister's conference in which Steve Argue came and talked about different aspects of Youth Ministry. It started with lunch and went for most of the day, he covered a wide array of topics but one thing that he talked about really stuck with me. He showed us a series of simple drawings that represent the story of God's love starting with Adam all the way through the resurrection to God bringing the world that we tore apart back together to be with him. After showing these drawings to us he asked us to describe different themes that are represented in these 18 or so drawings that he drew on a white board. Some that were brought up were, "Joy", "True love", "Hope", "God never gives up", "God fixes our mistakes", and many more very optimistic views of the gospel that scream to be told.

I am not doing a very good job remembering all that was said about the Gospel at the conference because there were so many awesome and exciting things that were coming up. Steve went on to ask why people don't talk about the Gospel like this everyday because it is that powerful and awesome.

I know that I often take for granted what the Gospel really is, the only reason I have hope or joy in my life. Recently Ive been trying to build time in my day just to spend in relationship with my Lord and Savior. Because so often I only pray when I want things or certain situations arise, or right when I wake up or go to sleep. But I have found it so beneficial to set aside a set amount of time each day to spend in communion with God through prayer, meditation, and reading scripture. It has blessed my life beyond belief. It reminds me of my roommate's favorite scripture John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That remind us that we are here to live life worth of Jesus' sacrifice, and not just sit around and wait for salvation.