Faith

Luke 17:6 says: "The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
and Matthew 17:20 says: "Because you have little faith," he said. "I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Go from here to there,' and it will go. There will be nothing that you can't do."

I especially love Hebrews chapter 11:
"Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith. By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word  from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he's still speaking through faith.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn't see death, and he wasn't found because God took him up. He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up. It's impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.
By faith Noah responded with godly fear when he was warned about events he hadn't seen yet. He built an ark to deliver his household. With his faith, he criticized the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. All of these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn't ashamed to be called their God -- he was prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son. He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac. He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead.
By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future.
By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph's sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff.
By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones.
By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they weren't afraid of the king's orders.
By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter when he was grown up. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the temporary pleasures of sin. He thought that the abuses he suffered for Christ were more valuable than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking forward to the reward.
By faith he left Egypt without being afraid of the king's anger. He kept on going as if he could see what is invisible.
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the destroyer could not touch their firstborn children.
By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.
By faith Jericho's walls fell after the people marched around them for seven days.
By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn't killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace.
What more can I say? I wold run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection.
But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world didn't deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.
All these people didn't receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God provided something better for us so they wouldn't be made perfect without us."

"Do you seriously think God can't use you?
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
The Samaritan woman was divorced.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer.
Lazarus was dead."

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 says: "Look at your situation when you were called, brothers and sisters! By ordinary human standards not many were wise, not many were powerful, not many were from the upper class. But God chose what the world considers foolish to shame the wise. God chose what the world considers weak to shame the strong. And God chose what the world considers low-class and low-life--what is considered to be nothing--to reduce what is considered to be something to nothing. So no human being can brag in God's presence. It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus. He became wisdom from God for us. This means that he made us righteous and holy, and he delivered us. This is consistent with what was written: The one who brags should brag in the Lord!"

Okay, first of all, I just want to take a second here to say: I don't understand how people can read this and not just be completely amazed by this information. I mean, seriously. God is astounding. He sent Jesus to die for our sins, to die for OUR mistakes, so that we could be forgiven. I mean, seriously, how could we deserve anything of such worth? That's just incredible.
I would also like to say, FAITH IS ESSENTIAL to having a relationship with God. But faith is so much more than most people make it out to be. God wants us to go out in the world and SHARE our faith with the rest of the world. HE CHOSE US to share our LOVE with one another. To share our EXPERIENCES and our GOODNESS. He uses us daily. Minutely. Secondly. Yes, I just made those words up. But seriously, God is CONSTANTLY working through us, using us for His purpose. Using us for OUR purpose. Isn't that just...awesome?!
And not only that, but God calls us to do extraordinary things. He calls us to change people's lives, and in so doing, spread the goodness of Christ. We are to represent God in such a way that it shouldn't be hard for people to realize that it IS God that is working through us, transforming us in such a magnificent way. And don't even think, for one second, that you are not included in this plan. GOD CHOOSES EVERYONE, ALWAYS. and it is up to US whether or not we accept God as our Savior or not. I mean look at this list above...God chose liars, womanizers, murderers, people who worried to much, and trusted them with His plan.

Through Faith, we can do incredible things through Christ.

Grounded

I guess I should start telling some stories about college. :)

I absolutely love it here. The professors are fantastic, the food is spectacular, the people are some of the kindest, most loving people I've ever met. The greatest thing about this place, is that I feel like I really belong here. It seems completely silly that I was even worried about this place. It's like my second home now.
I think most of the reason why I like it here has to do with the people that I've met and come to be with. All the P.E.O.s that talk about Cottey are always happy to share that "you'll meet your friends for life there." When I first got here, I was trying so hard to fill that expectation because it's what I so desperately wanted. Before I came, it was really hard to say who my closest friends were, because there wasn't really a 'group' for me anymore. I was tired of high school, and I was tired of the same people every single day. For awhile, I was actually thinking I might be depressed. I was ready to move on. And now I have, and it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.
I have found five, amazing girls, that I spend most of my time with here. I know I can count on them, and they can count on me. I know they are my friends for life.

A lot of things have happened since I've started school here, but I'll try to fit it all in here as best I can.

I take French, College Algebra, Chamber Singers, Dramatic Literature, Writing 101, Beginning Ballet, and Yearbook. The homework load isn't too bad, but it's definitely enough to fill up my nights will some stress. I could go as far to say that I'm less stressed here then I was in high school though, which is another plus. As I said before, my professors are really great and I'm actually learning a lot in my classes (except maybe Writing, because I took AP English classes my Junior and Senior years).

Most of the time I'll work on homework or I'll spend my time watching some shows on Netflix. But I also hang out with my five friends: Katie, Meghan, Rebeka, Jackie, and Ellen. When we first started hanging out, we would have movie nights watching Disney movies and Marvel hero movies. Once we all started getting busier, it was having dinner at someone's suite, going to Wal-Mart, going to school events together, and just recently, going trick-or-treating together. We've already made countless memories and inside jokes in just two months.

At the beginning of the year, the Student Activities Committee (SAC) put together a dance for the girls at Cottey. About two hundred girls showed up, which was a good turn out, and we danced until midnight with glow sticks, great music, and flashing lights.
We also went to a man's house named Mr. Noble, who attends Katie and Ellen's church. We watched Facing the Giants and ate cake and popcorn.
We went to Dr. Perkins' house for a Fall Festival. We drank hot chocolate, bobbed for apples, and there was a fire there to roast smores. Most of the time we were there I stayed with the cats though. :P
We've been to Wal-Mart several times, goofing around and hanging out...because there's nowhere else to go in Nevada, really.
And just recently, Jackie, Ellen, Katie and I got dressed up for Halloween and went trick-or-treating around the different Residence Halls.

Traditions are another thing I absolutely love about Cottey. They're unique and they'll always be remembered. It all started with Step Sing, where our Seniors sang to us at Main Hall. They told us the waterfoul poem and the reason behind why we can't say the "D" word. It's really fun, and I have yet to get pranked. Hehehe. There were also the Virginia Alice Cottey and Giant Pancake traditions that were extremely fun.

Right now, I'm also in a play called The Servant of Two Masters, as Clarice. Rehearsals have been taking up most of my time recently, but the performance is next weekend, so it shouldn't be stressful for much longer, and its also a ton of fun.

Other than that...I haven't really been doing much else that I can think of right now. If you have any questions, you can just ask. :)

This is How I Feel

This is how I feel right now.

On My Way :)

The College Life

It's a lot of what you make of it. The decisions you make can depend on what you feel like doing. It's so strange being so independent. I guess I've been more independent than a lot of people I know anyways, making conscious decisions for myself and the like, but it's still weird to just know that I'm here because I decided to come here. I'm here, because it's what I wanted to do. I'm here, making my own decisions every day, for myself. It's strange. I mean for goodness sake, I could decide not to go to class every day. I would never do that, but still. I could choose not to.
I just have to take this moment to thank my parents for raising me in an environment were I could choose good morals over not-so-great ones. I'm happy with the decisions I make for myself, and I'm happy with the morals I've created for myself to live by.

Anyways...

Life here is pretty routine, just like any life of someone who attends school. I have Algebra and Chamber Singers ever Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have French every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I have Dramatic Literature, Writing, and Ballet every Tuesday and Thursday. It's a great schedule. It's a fantastic schedule. I'm happy with it. College is definitely different in the way of scheduling events. Sometimes things are in the middle of the day, even though you might have class. You can either attend or you can't. You have to make the decisions of what clubs or organizations you want to be part of, and then meetings are held whenever they can. It's strange trying to keep everything organized, because now I can't just remember everything in my head like I could at highschool. In highschool, the schedule made sense because everyone had the same schedule. Now, it's a little different.

I do enjoy my classes. I actually, just this weekend, went on my first field trip to see Three Tall Women with my Dramatic Literature class and it was pretty fun. I'm actually able to grasp the concept of Algebra, I'm doing well in Writing, I'm understanding French, and Ballet is a blast! I can never remember that I'm only taking Semester classes though, and that it's all going to go by so fast. I think, "Oh, I don't have to worry about any exams until the end of the year! Wait..."

I think the best part about College here at Cottey is being able to meet some wonderful people. There are so many open opportunities to take part and get involved, and the people involved in these activities and clubs are awesome. Just today I went to a SAC (Student Activities Council) meeting and hung out with awesome girls while discussing possible decorations for the "NEON RAVE" dance that's coming up this Saturday. We even made some posters to hang up around the campus. So many people here are just so caring, and willing to meet you, and it's so great to discover all these different perspectives and knowledge from people I never would have known to meet in my life. It's just a cool concept.

Lukewarm Christians

Luke 9:57-62 reads: As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Then Jesus said to someone else, "Follow me." He replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and spread the news of God's kingdom." Someone else said to Jesus, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those in my house." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God's kingdom."

At my first Christian Alliance meeting here at Cottey, we discussed this passage and it really spoke to me. Basically, it's saying that like most beings have their 'place' in the world (somewhere they can settle down), Jesus is always on the move. He has no place to rest. Therefore, if you follow Him, you're following Him for life, and you're going to go places with Him. You can't expect to stay in one place.
Once you commit to God, there can't be any 'half-in, half-out' business. You're either all-in, or you're not at all committed to Him. There's no looking back after you've committed, and that's because God doesn't want just part of you. God wants all of you, to have and to hold, and to use for His purposes. When you accept Christ, it's as if you're 'born again,' because you've begun a new life with Him. And you can't begin a new life if you're still holding on to your old one.

I think one of the things that really bothers me the most is when people say they're a Christian, and never act like it. And I don't mean, they're trying but they occasionally slip-up and sin, because hey, after all we're only human. I mean, people that go to church, or youthgroup activities, and mission trips, and claim that they Christ is their saviour, and then turn around and do something completely un-Christian-like. What really really bothers me though, is that they're usually the ones that 'label' the rest of the Christian community.

You can't choose to be Christians some days, and then not others. It's a life-time commitment. It's a lifestyle. It's a relationship that you can't just walk away from. Because we can rely on God, and he should also be able to rely on us.

The Next Chapter

So, it's definitely been awhile. Guess I should try to get back in the habit of blogging as often as I can.

I've recently just started college, only been going to classes for about two weeks now, and it's been spectacular! I've already been able to learn in grow in new and exciting ways. :) It's different, not having to ask my parents if I can do certain things, or go certain places, or meet with certain people. But I feel like I grew up in such an environment, and that my morals are strong enough, that I won't do anything I would regret later anyways. It's a comfort knowing that I can be so strongly willed.
Classes are a lot like highschool. The only huge difference that I feel here, are the people and the living arrangements. Most of the time, I don't feel like I'm far from home in my suite, because I still have all of my things with me, and I still keep in touch with the people that I love. But it is different, and there are times when I remember that I'm still so far away from home, and that I can't just walk out the door and meet up with people that I want to see. So that makes it tough sometimes. But most of the time I'm so immersed in homework and activities here that I don't even think about it, which is nice. People here seem to be a lot nicer than other people I've known in my life. I suppose it could be that I juts got tired of seeing so many of the same people for so many years, and it's good to get around and meet new people, but it really seems like people are are just nicer in general. It's also exciting to meet so many people from so many places. I know people from Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Missouri, Ethiopia, Arizona, Utah, and more! There are so many cultures coming together and getting along, it's just awesome.
Classes are going really well. I haven't missed a class yet, and the homework load so far has been bearable. I'm just hoping to stay on my toes and get things turned in when they're supposed to get turned in. I don't want to fall into procrastination and staying up late every night because that affects your work, and your mood. So far so good. All my professors seem to be really great. I haven't had any major problems with them yet. Aaaand, clubs are beginning to fall into place, and traditions start next weekend. :) I can't wait.

The only thing that's sort of tough while I'm here is trying to keep everything in perspective. I don't really have a way of knowing what's going to happen next, who I'm going to see, what I'm going to do, or how I'm going to handle it all. It's just sort of happening and I'm going through it as it comes. At the moment, I'm not too worried about anything. It's just sometimes hard to keep juggling everything, and sometimes my Faith isn't at the top of my priorities. Which, is bad...but I think that once I get settled down a little more, and a set schedule starts to take place, I'll feel more comfortable with everything. I have been able to keep up on a daily devotion, which is nice because it's great for meditation, getting into a completely different mindset, and it only takes a couple of minutes. I've also been making my way to church every Sunday morning, which is nice as well, because they have volunteer opportunities coming up that I can take part in.

It's all so new, but it all seems to work out. I think this year is probably going to go by too fast. :P

Isaiah 66:9

I saw a picture posted by one of my friends on Facebook the other day and it was this:

and it's had me thinking for the past couple of days.

As many of you may know, many fires have broken out all across Colorado, causing grief and worry, evacuations and pain for many innocent families. But because of these fires, I've also noticed other things. People have been gathering together to keep an eye out for whatever arson is causing some of this chaos, people are keeping a sharp look-out for any fires that start up so they can (hopefully) be extinguished immediately, and communities are coming together to help and pray for all of those firefighters who are risking their lives daily to help us live in peace.
Good things have come from the bad.
Maybe these fires aren't entirely bad.

I've also had time to think about all the precious things that I hold dear to my heart, and just how quickly these things could be taken from me, if one of these fires is to reach my home. We started to gather some of our things just in case we need to evacuate, and I realized that even though I won't be able to take everything if I do have to go, I don't need to, because I will always remember them. They are a part of me. I think that's why I have to disagree now with the saying "Home is where the heart is." I think your heart is with your family, friends, and memories that you've gathered from being at home. They'll always remain with you. And yes...it's still a tremendous loss. Of course. I don't disagree with that. But the best things will always be with you.

However, after all of this chaos, and all of this worrying, and all of this pain, I think something good will happen. Because God always has a plan. I mean, something good is happening right now, and it's unity. Maybe that's something we all just needed right now...