Sophomore Year = too little sleep + two(ish) years to go :)

1. These past few days have been pure chaos (or at least that's what it feels like). My work schedule + my class schedule could potentially kill me...SOON. I considered posting my full schedule (both work and class) but I didn't want to sound like a complete whiny-baby, so I refrained ;). Basically, I'm just going to have to buckle down and suck it up. I know that as the year progresses I will adjust and maybe even grow to love it (cross your fingers. ha)...but right now all I know is that I'm tired. All. The. Time. I am just going to have to rely on God to really restore me physically, mentally, and emotionally throughout the year.

2. My apartment situation is interesting to say the least. I really do love the girls I'm living with, I just have a feeling this year will be more of a ministry than a living arrangement for me...

3. Speaking of my apartment, I LOVE LOVE LOVE having my own kitchen :) Definitely my favorite part so far. Also, having my own bathroom/shower again (shared with only one of my roomies) is a HUGE plus. PTL.

4. I have been driving myself crazy lately trying to figure out what I should start reading in my quiet times (because I'm completely cliche and want to have a new routine for this coming school year ;)). I'm thinking of reading through Psalms and (Fill-in-the-Blank), but I can't decide what else to read through...the Gospels? Major/Minor Prophets? Pauline Letters? I know I can't really go wrong, I'm just trying to chose one I can really delve in to...so feel free to give input :)

5. My classes are a little intimidating. I have this sneaking suspicion that Greek is going to eat my lunch (mostly because I REALLY dislike studying). Intro to Religious Education should be pretty tight (and VERY similar to the Educational Ministry of the Church, which I took last semester with the same prof. ha). The big surprise was that my History of Christianity class is almost ALL seniors, so I'm wondering if I should have been warned or something before I signed up for it...but once again, I love the prof (he taught my Christian Doctrine class), so I'm sure I'll like it. And lastly, I have Statistics for Social Sciences (YAWN!). Ugh. I hate math. I hate math. I hate math. So that's pretty much a DD....Oh, and I'm taking an online english from lonestar but I'm not too worried about that.

Anyways, that just about sums it up! I'll try to start posting more regularly now that I'm settling in to a routine.

Some lingering thougts

Today was my first official day back at DBU...

In related news, it was also my first day living in my apartment (more on this later, promise.).

So far so good. I'm tired and flustered, but thank the Lord, tomorrow is Sunday and I'm getting quality time with my mom.

P.S. I'll try to post some pic's of my new place in my next post...be ready ;)

Yahweh Yireh: The Lord My Provider

This morning I received a call from the head of the DBU Ministry student program telling me that I could potentially lose my grant money because I had to be endorsed by a church in the Dallas area that could vouch for my service and leadership over the past year. For those of you that don't know, this past year I had to go without a car and was therefore unable to go to the same church on a consistent enough basis (and be able to plug in, hold a position of leadership/service, etc etc). And even though I managed to be in a church every Sunday, there just wasn't any way for me to be in the same one every Sunday. Well as soon as I heard the news I was crushed. If it had been up to me, I would have been plugged in somewhere all last year doing ministry, but because I couldn't seem to find a reliable way to do this I had to just make do. As soon as I got off the phone with him I had to (audibly) remind myself that God has provided a wonderful job and a ton of opportunities to help pay for my college education...there was just no way He would leave me without the means to continue on after He had already done so much to put me at DBU.

And even though I knew and believed God would continue to take care of me and provide, I had no idea it would unfold the way it did...

This afternoon I received a call from the same man saying that he couldn't get me off his mind, and even though it would mean making a major exception for me, he still wanted to help me out and find a way around the problem. After we talked for a little while, he gave me a very small task to complete (I have to get a hand-written note from my pastor at NW) in order to keep my grant money and buy another year until I get the car situation worked out and I get settled in a church. Hallelujah!

I am constantly in awe of God and the ways He choses to get my attention. Though I never doubted His faithfulness, He still managed to show me just how much I underestimate Him. Praise be to God, Yahweh Yireh, My Provider!

¹⁹And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20

Lights! Camera! Awkward!

Today I learned a very important life lesson... I do not enjoy being on camera (or at least I'm not very good at it)*. It kills me that some people are just naturals when it comes to this kind of stuff, because for some reason, when someone turns a camera on me I just get all awkward and clam up!

Let me just start at the beginning...

Today I was supposed to help Dwight Davis (the Missions pastor) with a video that is going to be used on the church website...unfortunately, I forgot to mention to him that I'm not really good at thinking on my feet and especially not with that amount of pressure! The question I was supposed to answer was "how has going on a mission trip with Northwest changed the way you live at home?", and in my mind I had an awesome answer planned out that would have been both encouraging and insightful...but when it came down to it I was completely lost. I tried to say words like "Jesus" or "missional" or "intentional" as much as possible, but I'm not sure I got out a single coherent thought.

Hopefully whoever is in charge of editing can work wonders!



* for those of you that remember, I was on the video team... but no, I was never very good at it.