Hoopoe!

Something very exciting just happened to me! I discovered my new favorite animal! Its called a Hoopoe (pronounced "who-poo" haha! :)) I was on this wonderful website sporkle.com and i was doing a quiz on animals from the Bible. Apparently, in Leviticus 11:19, the hoopoe is mentioned. Naturally, I googled it and look at what i found!!!

Appartment Search

This weekend I really need to decide on a place to live. Courtney and I are really set on being room mates but we just can't seem to find the right place. After a day full of dramatic over-thinking and worry, we watched a movie to take our mind off the stress. By the end, we knew it was silly to worry because God will always provide for us!

"I believe in wise planning, but if after doing all you are able to do, you still are fearful of the future, the Lord says, 'Don't worry.'" 
-John MacArthur Anxious for Nothing

Our options so far:

1. Apply for on campus housing and either end up in a better dorm, end up in the same dorm that we don't like, or not get chosen in the lottery at all.
2. Live in University Highlands, but it will be really expensive to pay for it over the summer, meaning no camp :(
3. Sarah Herbert told us about a friend who was looking for 3 room mates. Its a good place to live but the email address we were giving to contact them led us to nowhere.
4. Our small group leader Lucy is moving out of her downstairs apartment in a cute little house with 2 girls living upstairs and they are looking for someone to move in. I have been to the house and it is soooo pretty! It is the best and cheapest option but there is not AppalCart (hate that thing!) route so we would both need cars.
5. Keep looking for places!!

Sandcastles

I recently started read the book Crazy Love by Frances Chan. It was honestly a life changing read! It took me three days to finish it and there were moments where i just had to stop and literally just sit and do nothing. As a result, I have decided to work more on loving people. I will say that I am willing to do anything for anyone, expecting nothing in return, even for those who have hurt me. 

This Is Strange

Right now I am in Ohio visiting family with my dad. When we left Raleigh there was 7-8 inches of snow on the ground. As we drove up through Virginia, West Virginia and into Ohio, the snow just got less and less! Since when does Raleigh get more snow than up north! Ahhhhh! (Btw: the pic is from Boone and neither Raleigh or Ohio. Maybe i should find my camera...)

Oops!

I live my life trying to appear perfect. I hate having to admit my faults, and my own conscious can be my own worst enemy at times. I rarely open up to people. I am writing this post to tell you that I am NOT perfect. Don't let any of your past encounters with me fool you. I mess up, make mistakes and have an extremely cluttered desk. Ask my room mate and she will tell you. Underneath my organized projection of myself is about half my wardrobe lying on the floor (mostly due to the fact that i have to wear about 203975 layers to step outside these days) and a bed that is never made (i just don't see the point!). 

Last night I was wondering why even though i try so hard, I feel like I am constantly disappointing God. And then I realized that God allows us to sin. No, God does not like sin, in fact he HATES sin. But the reason sin was introduced in the first place was so that we are forced to make a choice. Have faith in God, or reject Him. God didn't want robots. But once I accepted Christ as my Savior, why was I not made perfect right away? God uses our mistakes and failures to teach us. He also uses them to teach others. When I think about all the people in the Bible who God set as examples for us to follow, I can also find a flaw to each of them. Every Single Person. Everyone. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). Something else I realized is that i shouldn't worry that my mistakes will affect God's will for my life. I am earnestly seeking His will and whatever He wants to happen with my life, will happen. It is silly of me to think that my actions would have enough effect to alter, much less ruin, God's perfect plan. So you know waht, i thinkk its ok for me to not be perfec t right now. it wil just make heaven that much better!

Everything will be okay!

This summer and the beginning of this school year God has taught me something. That with God, in the end, everything will be okay. In fact, it will  be the best possible outcome for both God's glory and for myself. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Romans 8:28a - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him

There is a worship song that I really like called Your Love Never Fails. The bridge of this song says "You make all things work together for my good." The first time i sung this song I winced at these lyrics. Its not for my good, but for God's! Then I really started thinking and concluded that the only thing that is good for me is to glorify God. If my God and Savior is pleased, then that is all that matters. God's plan will always be accomplished. It has to be. He is God. And if God chooses to use me to accomplish this, even if it is something that looks harmful in the world's eyes, I can be sure that everything will be okay in the end. 

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us

Exodus 14:13-14 - Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you just need only to be still."

So when i am struggling with something or don't know what to make of a situation, I know exactly what to do. I will lay it before God and give it over to His plan, and then rejoice in knowing that if God is handling it, everything will be okay! 

I Peter 5:6-11

Why so COLD!

So basically this summer I felt like I was going to die of heat stroke. And everytime I had to walk across the ballfield, soaked with sweat, under the blazing sun I would thing to myself of how cold I would be this winter. Little did i know that this winter meant RIGHT NOW! Seriously! Its the beginning of October and there is already snow 20 minutes up the highway! And what is with the wind! Ahhhhh!

Sorry that was just a rant about how cold i am sitting in my room bundled in a sweatshirt. But this is my blog I can say what I want! Muahaha! 

On a happier note, October is going to be a great month. 
8th - Arianna visits!
9th - Homecoming!
16th - Max visits! 
21st - Fall break!
30th - Lifted concert!