Grace

What a weekend and week it has been..and yes I know it's only Monday! God has been reminding me of His power and I stand amazed at His character and how much He cares for his children. 

This past Sunday morning I looked at my phone during our brief, 3 minute intermission at Life Church and read a text message from my cheer coach Alicia. The message read:

''Good Morning! God saved Asia's life last night!!! She was in a horrible car crash where she was thrown from the vehicle through the winshield. No broken bones! Only scratches and cuts. Swollen and sore...His angels were in charge! Nick, Brooke and I went to Dallas in the middle of the night where they had taken her. She was awake, being our amazing funny Asia! Praise God today...her life was spared!!!!''

I can not adequately express to you my feelings as I read that text. I was so overcome with emotion. While everyone was greeting one another, grabbing a donut and refilling their coffee cups, I was sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't believe this had happened. First, that my dear friend and teammate had been in a horrific accident, and second that where most people would be crippled by many broken bones or death, Asia came away almost completely unharmed. How great is our God? 

Asia was CareFlight-ed to a hospital in Dallas and instead of being unresponsive like one would assume after a serious car accident, she was asking the people on board the helicopter if they knew Jesus. God is no where near finished with Asia. He has so much more for her life and He knew this was not the time to take her out of this world. He spared her life because He is going to use her mightily for the Kingdom. I believe that will all of my heart. 

The rest of Sunday was filled with short prayers just thanking Jesus for His miracle. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and with each thought, came an increase in faith. He is already using what the enemy tried to use for evil, for His good and to bring glory to His name. 

Then Sunday night after a talk I had with my roommate Tiffany, I heard the Lord prompt me to tell her that I will always be there for her. So I told her. I just said a few brief words letting her know that I love her and I will always be here whenever she needs me. 

This morning I woke up to the sound of Tiffany coming through the door crying. I shot up out of bed and asked what was wrong. Tiffany was in so much pain and asked, through tears, if I could take her to the doctor. I don't think i've ever thrown on clothes faster than I did this morning! I knew she needed me and I wanted to do anything I possibly could to help her. After a visit to a doctors office it was apparent that her back pain was more serious that we originally thought so we rushed to the ER. Tiffany was in so much pain. She couldn't find a comfortable position, she was constantly thirsty and was so hot and restless. It brought tears to my eyes a few times to see someone I care about and love so much in so much pain. 

The doctors told us that Tiffany was passing a kidney stone and I suddenly understood all of her pain and discomfort since I have dealt with them myself. 

After some pain medication, Tiffany started to feel better and I started thanking God again for His healing and grace. 

One more story...

After cheering at a basketball game tonight our cheer coach asked us to stay after so she could talk to us about something. After the game we gathered in our room and she told us that her and her husband (my dorm pastor) wouldn't be dorm pastoring next year. Yes, I'm getting married so I won't be on campus in  the dorm to experience the changes, but this was still news that sadden me. I was more so crying because I know that in just 3 short months I won't see Pastor Nick, Alicia, Nash and Anna Rogers everyday. Four people that have changed and influenced my life drastically the past year and a half while i've been at Southwestern. God is calling them to a new place of ministry so they are listening to His call and moving on to the next step of life. It is so bittersweet. 

Tonight at our All Dorm Devo, Pastor Nick spoke about submitting to wherever God calls you and making sure that you apply all of your gifting and talents so you can be used by God, which was a perfect word for me. Exactly what I need to here. 

After the events of this weekend and this week I just feel different. The Lord's character amazes me. 

God saved my friends life. He is a God of 2nd chances...and 3rd, 4th and 5th chances. He has His hand in all situations. Where the enemy would want to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus says no. My faith has increased, my joy in life is brighter and understanding how quickly life can be taken creates an urgency in my Spirit. I have so much more I want to do here. There are so many things I want to do for Jesus. I am not finished. I am not done yet! 

God allowed me to be His hands and feet today with Tiffany. I was able to serve her and be there when she needed me. God showed me a sweet picture of friendship. I am reminded of the times I would lay awake wondering if I would even have friends at SAGU. I have a friend in Tiffany. She is there for me and I am there for her. God is faithful in all things, even my insecurity about being alone. He gave me Tiffany and I am so grateful for our friendship. 

Lastly, God showed me a picture of what Michael and I could possibly face in the future. Pastor Nick and Alicia, a godly couple, faithful leaders in ministry that are now being called to a new place. Uncertain in their future but unwavering in their commitment to doing exactly what the Lord has called them to. What better example for college students? I have thought many times about what the future will look like for Michael and I. In 3 months, Michael will be working at his dad's church doing exactly what he got a degree for and doing what makes him happy. What a blessing! But i'm not naive to the fact that this may not always be the case. God has the authority to call us wherever, whenever and in that Michael and I will be faithful, just like Pastor Nick and Alicia. 

''And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.''

 

                                                                                                             -Romans 8:28

Duck on the Water

Yes another blog! Although I will admit this is most definitely time I should be using to finish homework, I just couldn't resist. School right now can only be described in one word, and that word would be .... Ridiculous. It's only the 2nd week, how is the possible? My high school teachers weren't lying when they said professors wouldn't baby us, it's true, it's far from pleasant. Yet with all the craziness I couldn't feel more at peace with life right now. It is well with my soul. Or is it?

Michael and I were at Waxahachie Lake this past weekend doing homework...well Michael was doing homework, I was sleeping. Typical. When I woke up I noticed a group of cute little ducks swimming close to bank just right in front of us. I took notice as they gracefully floated on top of the water. They were beautiful. Honestly, I could't stop watching them. It was a little windy outside so the water had a slight wave to it and when a wave would come, the ducks would just glide right along with the wave, almost as if they weren't affected at all. It was so interesting. They were just so calm, so peaceful. But one thing I know about ducks is that although they look calm on top of the water, their feet are constantly moving. It's how they float! They look so calm, but underneath they are doing everything they can to say a float, kicking their webbed feet as fast as they can go!

After some thinking, this reminded me of myself. Yes, I said it, I AM A DUCK! Sometimes I find myself trying to look so ''put together'', so calm and content, when in reality, my feet are kicking as hard as they can under water just so I don't sink.

I've let this thought bounce around in my head most of the week and tried to figure out areas that I feel confidences in and areas that make me nervous that I sometimes try to ignore.

CONFIDENCES

Where I go to school

Michael Bell

Being a SAGU cheerleader

My job

My degree

 CRAZY

Having to become an online student after this semester

Marriage (very excited that it's Michael, but some parts are scary)

Having to leave all my sweet cheer sisters

Not having a job in 4 months

Should I go to grad school? Where? How much does it cost?

The amount of school work I have

See what I mean. Life is crazy sometimes. It certainly messy a lot more than it is neat. I actually wrote down a similar list of confidences and crazies in my journal during my quiet time the other day and after praying over them and asking God for wisdom and contentment in all areas I felt God say, ''Take your list, mark out everything, tear it up, step on it, scribble on it, throw it away! 

Well that was a waste of paper.... 

Then God dropped a verse in my heart. One that I have known forever, but always tend to forget. 

''My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.'' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work though me. 

                                                                                             2 Corinthians 12:9


How powerful is that? What an awesome display of who God is. A man who loved the world enough that he gave his Son to take my list of confidences and crazies. God knew I would be a little duck. Frankly, I think a lot of people are. He knew I would have times in my life when I was trying to look cool, calm and collected but inside, I really need him to help me out. His grace is all I need. His grace is enough!

So I will boast in my weakness.

I’m going to have to be a completely distance education student after this semester, but God’s grace is enough.

I’m sometimes nervous about marriage, it’s new, it’s scary, it’s a huge change but I love Michael Bell with all my heart and God’s grace is enough

I get sad anytime I think about leaving all my amazing friends on the SAGU cheer team, but God’s grace is enough.

I’m worried about moving to Austin in 4 months and not having any idea where I’ll work, but God’s grace is enough.

I have no idea if I want to go to grad school, I’d love to go, but I’m not sure where or if I could even afford it, but God’s grace is enough.

I am constantly reading, studying, or doing homework and this semester might kill me, but God’s grace is enough.

Catch my drift? I am choosing to speak GRACE over things I deal with under the water. His grace is always enough for me in any situation, and you too!

Get in the Wheelbarrow.

I knew creating this blog in May 2012 was a good idea. I knew insight would strike. I just knew it. So here it is to make its debut, my first blog post!! (insert roaring crowd here) 

I was laying awake with my mind full of thought, which unfortunately is not uncommon for me at all. At least 5 nights out of the week I have to tell my brain to shut off and go to bed. Typical college lifestyle I guess. But tonight was a little different, unlike most nights where my brain is filled with what the next day holds, or what detail I need to accomplish for my upcoming wedding, tonight I was thinking about other people. Who knew I could be so caring? I was thinking about a certain situation where someone important to me is questioning their faith in Jesus, wondering if He'll come though or if they should just give up and they are simply frustrated with life as they know it. We've all been there, down in the dumps, not sure of who we are, not sure of the next step to take, not sure if the next step should be off a bridge without bungee cords. Undoubtedly and unfortunately, we all have these moments. But WHY? 

That's the question I asked myself tonight. Why do I occasionally doubt God? Why me? A Bible reading, journaling, church going, bible school attending Christian doubt God? Why does my friend doubt? Why do you doubt? 

Then I remembered a cool story. The story is about a man named Charles Blondin. 

Blondin's greatest fame came in June of 1859 when he became the first tightrope walker to ever walk the quarter mile across Niagara Falls. 
He walked 160 feet above the falls several times, each time with a different daring attempt- once in a sack, on a bicycle, in the dark, and once he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet! 

One particular time, a large crowd gathered along both sides of the river and people began buzzing about him ''Oohh-ing'' and ''Aahhh-ing'' about Blondin's latest stunt, this time he carefully made his tightrope walk blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow. 
After reaching the other side the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls! They were amazed! How could someone do such a thing?! 
Then, Blondin stopped to address his audience, ''Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?'' 
The crowd enthusiastically shouted, ''Yes yes yes!! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. You can do anything!''

''Okay'', said Blondin, ''Then someone get in the wheelbarrow....''


As you can guess, no one wanted to get in the wheelbarrow. They would have to be crazy right? I mean seriously, I don't care how good someone is, who cares if they made breakfast while walking on one small rope 160 feet above deadly water. Shoot, no way i'd get in there! I don't have enough faith in anyone to risk my life like that. 

Do you get it? Incase you aren't picking up on my sarcasm, I'm trying to make a point here. I'll give you a break since it's my first blog post.

My response, and the response of the crowd reminds me of my friend I was thinking about tonight and of so many others, myself included. 

Too many of us live in a constant hypocritical state that we can't seem to shake. Yes, we know God can do great things, we hear about the awesome things God can do in church every Sunday. He turned water into wine, he fed 5,000 with a few fish and some bread- we know these stories. We say, God did, instead of saying, God DOES. 

We stand on the side of the river with our giant foam fingers and we cheer about how great our God is and we get excited when someone tells us about how He's done something in their life but when someone asks us to take a step of faith, we don't react. 
What would happen if you got in that wheelbarrow with Blondin? I can say you would most likely be just fine. I mean the man made an omelet while walking 160 ft in the air for goodness sake! But honestly, what would happen if we took more steps of faith? What would happen if we could trade in our ''doubt'' card with a ''faith in who God is'' card?


This year I want to shed my ideas about who God is, or who I thought He was. I want a new perspective. I want to believe with all my heart that God WILL do something big in my life. I'm trading in ''did for does''. 

So what do you say? Will you get in the wheelbarrow?

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

-Matthew 21:21