"My Big Splurge"

Well I finally splurged and bought myself something that I've wanted for quite sometime...an IPOD!! I absolutely love it! It amazes me how technology works...this tiny little thing made out of plastic can store 5,000 songs and it sounds amazing! So anyway, I'm back in good ole' Mechanicsville...it's good to be home after so much traveling. The bed I slept in at the hotel last night was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever felt, so it will be incredible to climb into my own bed tonight...there's nothing quite like the feeling of getting in your own bed after being away for a while! I bought a few new CD's this week...ZERO7 & Damien Rice...I've really enjoyed listening to them both...I'll write a review of them in a few days...maybe when I get back to school. So I have a week left of Christmas break...time surely has flown by! There were so many things that I wanted to do while I was home and as of now, I really haven't done much of anything...oh well! It was nice to get to do some traveling, but I think because I haven't been home much, and because my brother hasn't been here at all, this Christmas break has been different, but I guess I'd better get used to different. At dinner last night, my dad said that he really felt like this year was going to be one of major transitions for all of us...I can really see that. I really feel that this coming year will be monumental in my life. I know that the Lord is really desiring to work in my life and I am excited about the things that I am trusting Him to do!

A quote for the new year:

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."
- Alan Cohen

22 HOURS, 24 MINUTES till my B-DAY!!

"Restless Traveler"

Well, I'm sitting in a hotel lobby somewhere in North Carolina tonight. My family has been on the road quite a bit the past few weeks...first I went home from school, then my family went to New York for 3 days, then back home again, then we were there for a few days then traveled to Boone, North Carolina to spend some time with my brother's fiance's family. Yes, my brother got engaged a little over a week ago...I'm so excited for him...Jana is one of the most incredible people I know, and I am so thankful that the Lord has brought her to our family. She has such a passion for serving the Lord...it's amazing and somewhat contagious. It's so neat to watch her and my brother interact...they are so adorable in love. I think that couples are one of the most beautiful things on this earth. It just feels so right and so complete. I am anxiously waiting for the one the Lord has created me to love and to complete me! Anyway, New York was incredible...I am such a city person! I could definitely see myself living in a city somewhere after school...especially after being stuck in Central a.k.a "the middle of nowhere" for 4 years! The past weeks have been slow and relaxing...I've really enjoyed the break, however I am starting to really miss everyone at school, as well as the whole college lifestyle...only a week and a half left! Well, I'd better go for now, there is someone waiting to use the computer...I'll write more later.
By the way...just in case ya didn't know, my birthday is Thursday!

"All Nighter"

I pulled my third all-nighter of the semester last night...lots of laughs, and lots of studying...hopefully I can make it through the rest of the day. It's the last week of the semester...this thought brings forth very bittersweet emotions. There is a big part of me that really wants to go home, but I am also really going to miss all of my friends here at school and just being here. I am definitely ready for a break from classes though...that's for sure! Newspring was incredible this weekend...the message was about the Lord's supper...Perry had some really awesome insights and his teaching was right on. Also, the Newspring band...including my wonderful boss/friend Whitley, totally "rocked my face off with thier funk nasty tunes"! I love me some ghetto talk! This was a great weekend all around...got to spend some quality time with some awesome friends and got to go to coffee underground! But it is Monday morning and the week is here. It's amazing how something can be so depressing and so exciting at the same time.

Verse for the day:
"If I climb the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute --you're already there waiting!"
Psalm 139:7-10 (The Message)

"Favorite Things"

One of my favorite things about being an RA are the completely random and incredible conversations that happen in the middle of the night. It is almost 5am now, and I just finished talking with one of my freshman residents about life and love and our relationships with Christ and other people...it was great! God has truly used this position of leadership to change and mold me!

Speaking of favorites...here's a completely random list of some more of my favorite things:
1. Snow
2. Chai Tea
3. The beach
4. Singing with Jenn
5. Singing with whoever, whenever
6. Live music
7. Little Kids
8. Popcorn
9. Coffee Shops
10. Book Stores
11. Flip-Flops
12. Chick Flicks (I know, I know)
13. Chicks!
14. Sunny Days
15. Vacation
16. Christmas
17. Being with my Family
18. Long Trips
19. New paper and pens (I'm a dork!)
20. Laughter

"These are a few of my favorite things"...what are some of yours?

"16 4JSUS"

What are you living for? God challenged me with this question this past week as one of my closest friends went home to be with Jesus. What, or should I say Who, am I living my life for? Honestly, I have been living my life for myself. There have been very few times in my life when I have truly lived for God, giving him complete control. Comfort is so dangerous to our Christian life. When we become comfortable, we cease to rely on God for provision and protection. I have been living in comfort for a long time.

Lauren Marie Parker breathed her last breath on this earth on November 19th, but it was only then that she truly began to live. You see, Lauren did not live a life of comfort. She lived her faith out loud for all to see. She fully relied on God for her everything. Lauren had no strings attached to this world, and truly desired Christ more than anything this pitiful life has to offer. I have found myself in awe of God's grace and faithfulness this week. He chose to give Lauren the desire of her heart...to be with Him, and impact many lives here on earth. 256 people accepted Christ as their savior at Lauren's funeral. This was not because of a wonderful message or speaker (however, my dad rocked!) or song, but it was because hundreds of people saw the way that Lauren lived her life...completely sold out to the cause of Christ, passionately living her life to its fullest potential. Lauren was full of joy, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, passion, strength...it was these characteristics, the abundant evidence of Christ's reign in her life that impacted so many people.

As I watched so many people choose Jesus because of the example that Lauren lived, I began to wonder if anyone would be drawn to Christ by watching me live my life. I'm not so sure. It is my desire to live everyday with a passion and desire for such intimacy with my creator that it encompasses everything that I am and all that I do. I pray that God would smooth out my rough edges and imperfections, allowing others to see a greater reflection of him in me. I don't want to stand on the side lines any longer.

As Lauren turned the corner in her little, white Nissan she had no idea that she would be instantly in the presence of her Lord. She was ready. I want to be ready. Not just "saved", but entirely ready to be wrapped in his embrace, desiring Christ above all else. Lauren's liscence plate read "16 4JSUS". 16 was not only her jersey number, her identity, but it was also her age. She lived 16 years for Jesus, completely sold out to Christ's purpose for her. Through this experience I have realized that my life is not my own. I pray that as I grow and mature, people will be able to see these things evident in my life.

Thank you God for loving me...I'm so underserving.