It's Just That Obvious

I love how God is everything. For instance, He is the beginning and the end, He is the first and last, He is gentle, yet fierce, He is the High Priest, and still the servant of all. One thing I have learned about God this past week is that He is subtle, yet so obvious. I love it.

Sometimes I wonder, "WHAT AM I DOING????" This past week, that question went through my mind so many times. However, its just like God to show me that I am doing absolutely nothing, and He is doing everything. How does He show me? Very obviously.

The first way God does this is through His word. I read my Bible (well, I most definitely try to) every day. So there I am, in the middle of an everyday activity of mine and God speaks. This week He spoke to me through 2 Corinthians 4 (No, I'm not going to cite it here... go look it up!) These verses talk about how we are just jars of clay and the Spirit within us is a treasure. The part that really got me was that everything we do, the power we possess, comes not from us, but from above! So God very obviously reminded me through these verses that nothing I do is on my own, but only through the Holy Spirit.

The second way God has shown me He is in control is by.... gosh, blowing my mind! I am involved with a ministry here at school through Campus Crusade for Christ in which we minister to international students. Every Monday we have lunch with the internationals and share with them the Gospel. Well, this ministry started for the semester a couple of weeks ago, and our goal for the first lunch was to simply get to know the students: their names, where they are from, that kind of thing. God had such bigger plans. One of the women who came to the lunch sat down, and, after introducing herself, asked "What is the difference between Islam and Christianity?" Whoa! Instead of keeping the conversation limited to small talk, we were thrown headlong into a huge opportunity to share the gospel, especially when she followed that question by, "Who is Jesus Christ?" I was in absolute amazement of the Lord in that moment.

I think one thing I often forget is how great God's plans are for us all; so often we underestimate what He has in store for us. I am definitely a planner, and I have to admit I have been guilty (and often am even still) of planning my life without consulting the Lord. I wish I could have seen a year ago what great plans the Lord had for me even now, perhaps I would have allowed Him to do all of these crazy things in my life a little sooner.

Finally, I just want to tell you about what is going on with mine and Rebekah's ministry at First Apostolic Church here in Bowling Green. This is the most obvious way God has been working in my life as of late. I am in no way qualified to be leading ten to fifteen 6-10th graders. As I've said before, I am in way over my head. However, for some reason, God did choose me, and he IS using me (and Rebekah). It's nuts. Last week, I pretty much taught the kids the gospel. I told them that Jesus came and died for their sins and that they should repent and turn towards him. Afterward, I felt useless. I really didn't think any of it got through to them. One of the girls came up to me after the lesson and instead of telling me about her relationship status with the Lord, she asked me for help with her math homework. At first, I was a little discouraged, but then I realized that in a very subtle, yet obvious way, God was showing me that my duty is to LOVE those kids. If they can see that I love them, and that I am willing to help them (as much as I can, I'm not the math genius in the family) then, they will be able to someday understand the love that God has for them. I just have to love them like Jesus would, and I can do that.

In closing, Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." What a beautiful promise from the Lord, and in those simple words it is so obvious that He has a love for us that passes all understanding. Wow.

Too Good

God has been too good to me. That is the honest truth right there! I mean, right now, in this moment, the Lord is absolutely blowing my mind.
Tonight I found out that my sister Rebekah and I are the answer to someone's prayer. It is such a humbling experience to know that the God of the universe actually looked down and found us as the vessels he desired to use.
Now, you may ask, what happened? Good question. I will tell you. A few weeks back, my grandmama met a lady from Bowling Green, Kentucky, at a church service in Nashville. She then proceeded to invite her new acquaintance to a Ladies Day that our church was hosting (keep in mind that I was at neither event). At the Ladies Day, through more introductions and a little conversation, my grandmama came to find that her new friend is a certain Tammy Hudson, and Tammy's husband is the pastor of First Apostolic Church here in Bowling Green. When Grandmama realized this, she told Tammy that my sister and I both attend WKU, which is literally five minutes away from the Hudson's church. Then, without having ever met me, and having just met my sister for the first time, Sis. Hudson asked if Rebekah and I would be willing to attend their church on Wednesday nights and work with their youth department.
Honestly, I was so honored by such an opportunity and I jumped right on board next to Rebekah, who was just as thrilled as I was. So, where does the answered prayer part come in? Well, right now. Tonight Rebekah and I attended the Hudson's church for the first time this semester. After calling on us to sing, the pastor told the church that when he moved here to pastor, he prayed that God would send to the church a way into Western Kentucky University. Just someone that would bridge the gap, provide a way for ministry. Well, I mean its pretty obvious, Rebekah and I are WKU students, and there we sat, about six pews back at First Apostolic Church, Bowling Green, Kentucky. God sent us there.
I am not writing any of this to brag on myself or on Rebekah or anything like that. Instead, I boast in the Lord that He knows exactly what He is doing. Why he sent me or Rebekah, I have no clue. It scares me to death. However I do know that if He is truly the one who sent us to the Hudson's then He will take care of everything. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the church and for my ministry as well. Like I said in the beginning, God has just been too good to me... but I'm not complaining! :)

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are God's children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us."
-Romans 8:16-18

Definition of Profession

This week has been absolutely insane. I can think of no other way to describe it.

This week was the first full week of classes here at Western. I have been excited for almost a month now about school starting, getting to see all my friends, and yes, even going to class! This semester I am getting into some of the classes that are for my major and I have been anticipating them greatly. This semester I will get to observe in classrooms, work with kids, and, in turn, see if I really do want to be a teacher (I'm pretty sure I already know the answer: YES!!!)

To sum up the events of this week, I will tell you that I have already dropped a class. Yep, week one and I'm having to rid myself of the stress of an online Biology course already. Yikes. Anyways, I am not blogging to simply unload on you the stress of my first week of school; I actually have something really cool to share with you.

I am in a class this semester called Educational Psychology; the class is a study of how behavior and the mind effect the total learning process. For this class we have to complete service learning hours as well as journal each week on different topics based on our service learning project. This week, since we have not yet started our service, the journal was about the definition of the term "profession." I found it very interesting that in Webster's Dictionary, "profession" is referred to as a "calling."

I just thought this was so cool because I think that so many people in the church have the misconception that one's calling has to be something like preaching or singing or playing an instrument, and that is so untrue! God has created us all with our own set of gifts and talents and He uses us all in so many different ways! One's calling could be teaching, nursing, or even mechanical engineering! The Bible tells us that every single little thing we do, we should do all for the glory of the Lord.

So if there are any college students out there reading my blog: be encouraged, set your hand to the plow and don't look back! God has called us to our future professions that we might bring glory to Him. And, if you aren't in college, if you are already out there working then remember and be refreshed in the fact that no matter where you are, God probably has you exactly where He wants you!