Some thoughts as I think about the next few days.

In 2 days, the Class of 2014 at Messiah College will walk across the stage and receive their college degree.  I will be sitting in the stands, probably crying my eyes out, with a mix of sad tears and happy tears. Many of the people who will be graduating were some of my first friends at Messiah and I hope to stay in touch with them for a long time.  When I found out two years ago, that My college graduation  would be delayed an extra year, I was so angry. I felt like I wasn't worth it and felt like I was getting held back in some sorts. My parents and I both had a stream of emotions for awhile. College had been really hard for me , in fact, it was the biggest challenge of my life. I thought that graduating in 4 years was the thing to do. I mean the majority of people, graduate on time. I was wondering why this happened to me. but than, of course, I learned an important lesson.  God comes into our lives and surprises us to no means. He changes your plans and you have to learn to remain faithful and trust that He knows what He is doing. This was very hard for me to learn. I tried to do everything possible to graduate on time, but the major that I wanted was not allowing me to do that.
Over the last two years, I have really grown more in my faith. I live on a day by day basis, knowing that I have something planned. But at any moment, God can come around and change that plan to teach me a lesson. I also continued to learn about the never ending, crazy love of Jesus. Yes, I might have failed a few classes and had to retake them, I might have not broken any times in my swimming career, but God was crazy about me, and loved me through all my flaws and failures. I think when people understand that is when they can truly be real with God. Because our whole life revolves around Him and everything that I do matters to Him. My pastor once said this in a sermon, " Jesus is so unpredictable and that is why it is so hard to follow Him."  That statement has been proclaimed in my life. He is very unpredictable but I have learned to trust in Him and follow Him.
So, to sum this up, Saturday will be an emotionally filled for me wishing that I was up there graduating with some of my best friends, however, I am also so excited to come back for another year to the place that I call home. God is doing amazing work at Messiah and I am excited to see what I will learn in the next year and to see how,  God will move in the next year.  I am not ready to graduate yet, and looking forward to one more fantastic, and unpredictable year trusting in God and waiting to see how He will change me.
Until next time,
Trusting and Following Christ.

A New Year

Well, 2014 has arrived! The year that I was supposed to be graduating from college but like so many times, God often changes our plans.  As many of my close friends are applying for graduate schools, applying for jobs and are really stressed out about the reality of life that will come to them in 4 short months, I am simply living every day one day at a time and cherishing every moment and opportunity that is given to me. I am treating this like my senior year because it technically is.  Other than that, I was trying to think of things that I want to do this year. I think that New Year's resolutions are lame so I am just thinking of  ways that I want to grow this year.
 1. The first is through my prayer life.  I want to be intentional about praying for people each and every day and growing in my prayer life.  Prayer is the number one way that we communicate with God and so as I am also trying to grow closer to Him this year, my prayer life has got to become better.  So I am trying to make a prayer list and ask my friends what they need prayer for.
2. I am trying to be intentional about relationships in my life. So often, in the hustle and bustle of life, it is so hard to keep in touch with people. I  have been blessed with many great friends in my life so I want to to be deliberate about spending as much time with people as possible.
3. Lastly,  I would like to returrn to my first love. I know I say this every year, but  I am really trying to grow more in love with my faithful, compassionate and loving Savior.
I am excited for the year and the many ways that I will fall short of the glory of God  but than be able to receive His grace and  live every hour of every day glorifying God and enjoying him!
 
I am also trying to blog more as well:) Let's see how that works out....