Your first love?

Lately I've felt that God is calling me to something so much bigger than I can comprehend. My fiance has had the exact same feeling. We just have this huge excitement and wonder rolling within us, as if we're standing on the edge of a cliff, attached to a hand glider with the perfect wind about to lift us to flight. We are on the edge of something huge and I'm pretty pumped about it. Will feels like God may be calling him to start some kind of ministry, he's passionate about young people and football, I know I'm called to be his helper and I'm passionate about underpriveleged young people. So what is it that God is calling us to? I'm not quite sure, but after reading the pitfalls of people who are new to ministry (Young Lions) on Clayton Kings blog, I realized that I must be certain to remain in Christ and HE will guide my steps. This was one of the final pitfalls Clayton warned about:
Losing The First Love - from personal experience, I can say that all of the creativity and energy that YoungLions have penned up inside their hearts and heads can distract them from the main thing; staying connected to the Vine. In John 15, Jesus made it clear that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him, we can do nothing. NOTHING. Young Lions must not forget that we are called first to Christ, not success or church planting or executive decision-making. He must always remain our first love.

Is He your first love?

True Freedom

This morning I had to be up bright and early to attend a Veteran's Day honorary breakfast for Teaching Fellows. The scholarship ensures that I only have to pay for books each year, so I tried not to complain much. I have to admit, when my alarm clock went off this morning and there was not a light shining through the window and the room outside my covers was freezing, my brain started formulating excuses of why I "accidentally" missed the program. Despite the bitter thoughts, I rose and got ready. When I arrived, I was still a little cynical about waking up early. Then the Veterans began arriving and my attitude started to shift. God spoke to my heart and made me realize what these men and women did so that I can be free. Then, I was reminded of what Christ did so that I can be free.
All too often those who don't believe in Christ won't accept him for fear of losing their freedom. They fear that God will take away the fun in their lives. God has been showing me lately just what it means to have freedom in Christ. When you take your eyes off of Christ for just a moment, the world creeps in and surrounds. The walls grow higher and your hope begins to shrink, but the minute you cry out to Jesus, they very second you realize that you cannot do things on your own, he rips the curtain and removes the barriers separating you from him. There is nothing like setting your eyes firmly on Jesus. Everything else just seems so small in comparison. Joys are greater, sorrow is less and Christ is above all. Praise God for the freedom we have in Jesus. Thank a Veteran for the freedom we have in this country.

Politics?

Normally, I keep out of politics because I am not very well versed in understanding how it all works; however, I am about to begin working in public schools, get married, and one day have children in public schools...I think it's time that I show interest in politics. Lately I've been researching John Edwards' plans for education. The following paragraph I found on his website made me giddy.

Make Every School an Outstanding School
Every child in America should have the chance to attend an outstanding public school that has high expectations for every child. Edwards will radically overhaul No Child Left Behind to live up to its goal of helping all children learn at high levels. The law today judges children based on cheap standardized tests, forces schools to narrow the curriculum, fails to accurately identify struggling schools, and imposes unproven cookie-cutter reforms...To build on current successes, he will help 1,000 'great' schools a year expand or start new branches. Edwards will also invest more resources for low-income children, put us on a path to fully funding special education, and raise graduation rates by creating multiple paths to graduation such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts.

He plans to RADICALLY OVERHAUL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I love that statement. After much research into the No Child Left Behind Act, I've drawn the conclusion that No Child Left Behind is seeking to "privatize" public schools. What happens to the children who cannot afford to transfer to the school with "highly qualified teachers" because their school failed on the basis of the national report card? They get LEFT BEHIND.
I'm not 100% sold on John Edwards yet, but I am definitely appreciative of his plan to overhauld No Child Left Behind. I've got more research to do before I make up my mind.

My God is Sovereign

Man, I am a LOUSY blogger. But, to my defense, I am a busy lady. I am a senior in college and in my last semester before I student teach, I'm planning a wedding, trying to spend enough time with my friends and my AMAZING fiance, and I'm trying my best to grow in my walk with God. Needless to say, I stay busy. Enough excuses, time to share an awesome work of God.

Four years ago next week I was a senior in high school playing in the North/South All-star volleyball game. The North/South game is played by four teams. The best seniors from the North 1A/2AA teams play the South 1A/2AA seniors and the same with the 3AAA/4AAAA teams. Funny that four years ago I was playing and this year I have been asked by an FCA representative to speak to this years All-Stars. As I was praying and listening to what God wanted to say to these girls, he really showed me that I needed to tell them what I wish someone had told me when I was in their shoes. I had some quiet time tonight and God just spoke to my heart and I filled in a detailed outline of 5 things I wish someone would have told me 4 years ago. Then God spoke to my heart again and said that I should write all of this in a letter and print it out for each girl to keep. Then he spoke to my heart again and told me to see who this years all-stars were. I knew I wouldn't recognize any names, save the ones from my hometown. When I got to the names of the two girls chosen from my high school alma mater, I wanted to drop to my knees before God and thank him for the chance to speak his truth to them. I am completely blown away by God's plan and God's timing in not only my life, but the lives of others. Praise God for his sovereignty!

My God is a God of Romance!

It's amazing how when you ask God to remove you from the equation and speak to the heart of others how he honors your sincerity and does just that...in ways that you least expect. I haven't written on my blog in a about a month and a half now, but by accident I stumbled across my own blog tonight and read this comment.

hey there. I was googling "Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life"
Proverbs 4:23 and I came across your page. After reading your blog I was very amazed at your age and how much love and devotion your life has for GOD. I am about your age and I must say your blog has really shown me that it doesnt matter how old you are, we as a individual can all be a ambassador for Christ and you have truly inspired me to LET GOD be the main source of my happiness and definitely the keeper of my heart. THANK YOU but definitely THANK GOD.

I wanted to write this person back and say thank you for the spectacular encouragement, but they didn't have a contact on their profile, so ohjaneeee...thanks for allowing God to use you to build up a sister in Christ. I'm blown away by how God uses little details to do things that he knows will take my breath away over and over again. He IS the God of romance!