The Honeymoon is Over

We are now in the midst of week 6 of our school year and the honeymoon stage is over for everyone.

Sleep deprivation is catching up with the students

it's getting harder for them to follow the rules

 flu season is upon us

homesickness is seeping in 

and school work is getting harder. 

This makes my job a little more challenging at times,  but I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

This year God has been teaching me what it means to find my satisfaction, my all, my everything in Him. This has been a lesson in relationships for sure. I've been learning that physically and emotionally, but lately He has been showing me that He is my all in ministry. Yes, I know that may sound elementary and obvious. God should be our everything in ministry. But I have found that that is easier said than done. I am discipling eight girls at the moment, eight precious, fun, beautiful, wickedly sinful girls. More than anything, my desire is heart change for my eight, but also for all the students on campus. I want them to want to Christ more than anything else. I want them to forgive their past and trust God for their future. And I am doing everything I can to bring them to a place where they are captivated with Christ.

Aye, there's the rub.

I am doing.

I 

am

DOING.

I spend more time in my day doing, telling, teaching, talking, walking, reading, pointing, and crying than I do praying. Man, God has been drilling this into my heart these past couple days! Why am I not committing my girls to God in prayer. Why don't I bring them boldly, broken and seeking, before the Throne of Grace and beg God for their heart change? I do, do, do when what I should be DOING is PRAYING. I fail when I minister to these girls in my own strength, no matter how good my intentions are. All day I tell them about the power God has to change their lives and satisfy them completely and yet I, hypocritically, fail to tap into that power through prayer. 

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.   Hebrews 4:16

That Time a Car Caught on Fire

Well, it has begun.

This past weekend was opening weekend for Word of Life Bible Institute in Florida. Students arrived in one big wave Friday afternoon with parents in-toe to move in, register, and begin the year that will change their lives.
In all honesty, it's been a bit of blur but let me back up a couple days and introduce you to my Resident Assistants. 

We had an awesome group of students come in for RA training, and by the end of the training, myself and Lindsey (the other girl DC) were having trouble picking RA's because there were so many great options. I prayed very specifically over each girl and I believe God gave me an incredible team.

                                    Abigail Novak, Brooke Chandler, Maddie Sallstrom, Olivia Hartsfield



All of these girls are dear to my heart already and I have such a different dynamic with each of them. God is already doing incredible things in each of their hearts and I am I just overwhelmed to part of their lives this year.  I have the privilege of discipling each of my RA's and two other students, making a total of 6 students I get to pour into over the course of this year.


Classes started on Tuesday and the student are going through the book of James this week. Slowly but surely my schedule is becoming more consistent and I am thankful for that.

Opening Weekend Excitement 

Friday night, ended early and by 9:30pm I was free and ready to go to bed. I couldn't believe I was going to be in bed so early and I remember thinking I better take advantage of nights like this because they will be far and few between. As I was walking out of Lindsey's room to head to my room I got a call from a student. I answered to a flustered, overwhelmed Morgan and only understood the words, "car...fire...stuck by the road...can you get us?" 

Bed was going to have to wait. 

I grabbed Courtney (an intern in admissions dept.) and we drove to meet them. 

Morgan and Katie are sister's and Katie bought and refurbished a '77 VW bug. Luckily when we arrived, the car wasn't on fire, and probably had never been on fire, but did smell like something was seriously wrong. We decided to just push it off to the side of the road and worry about it the next day. As we were pushing it too the side, Katie forgot to steer and we almost hit a tree. 

Right as we are in the midst of that, a jeep full of WOL guys pulled up to save us and they towed the car back to campus.

 Needless to say, it was an eventful. Also, I didn't get to bed till past 11:30pm.

So I'd say it's been an exciting first week of work and classes.   

Here's to new beginnings

Jesus says in John 10:10 that He has come to give us an abundant life. Life to the fullest. First things first, let's clarify that life is not made abundant by money, things, success, love, or power. Those things are nice and fine, but the truly abundant life is that way because of Christ. 

Christ is the key to the fullest life. 

When Christ is your life, he fills your heart with love and relationships, you experience the greatness of a close intimacy with your creator and nothing can make your life more abundant. 

So About Those New Beginnings...

For those of you who don't know, I am on staff at Word of Life Florida as one of the two discipleship coordinators. Many have asked that I keep a blog again to keep them updated on what God is doing in my life and the lives of those around me this year, so here it is. 

I drove down on Wednesday with my mom and have spent the last couple days working to make my room feel like a home. My goal was to make my room a safe haven, an environment where I can relax and refresh in the Lord, but also a place where girls can have fun and laugh, cry and share their hearts. A home away from home for all of us. 

Obviously there is still some work to be done (please ignore the boxes).  But overall I am thrilled with the room and so excited to start discipling girls in those chairs, watch movies on the TV, drink pumpkin spice coffee from the coffee pot and grow closer to the Lord in this room!!

Tomorrow starts the craziness.

Monday all day is Staff Day. Lot's of sessions and training, bonding and games. I look forward to getting this ball rolling. Then Thursday afternoon, RA training starts! I can't wait to share this year with you tell you all the amazing things I am expecting God to do in my life and the lives of the girls here this year! 

I'll leave you with the lesson God has been making sure I understand before the school year starts. 

I am unable.

I am not able to change the hearts of the girls coming next week. I am not even able to change my heart. I am frail and human and the sooner I understand that the better.

GOD IS ABLE!

He has called me here, to this position, and he will equip me. He is sovereign and all-powerful. I can do nothing without Him and His timing in perfect. I am clinging to Him as I enter this unknown, this new school year, this new beginning. 

Here's to new beginnings and a big God!