Monday, August 31, 2009

Through the Eyes of Christ... not Katie

Hello world,


I'm still alive, flu free, and healthy.  I did not feel well last week at all but fortunately, I am now back to normal!  Hooray!  Last week was a pretty good week.  Nothing tooo exciting but great nonetheless.  Thursday was my favorite day!  Classes went well in the morning then choir in the afternoon.  I love choir. It's my favorite "class" by far.  Then I took a nap and while I was snoozing, my phone rang and it was Ashley!  Her, Nathan, and the boys were in Anderson and they wanted to know if I wanted to eat dinner.  Of course I did!  So Brittany, Michelle, and the Neighbors went to Chick Fil A!  Praise the Lord!  Hooray! Then Thursday night was BCM!  Woo hoo!  It was an awesome time to just wind down from a crazy week and just worship.  Pretty sweet if you ask me!


 Then it was Friday!  I went home to Lancaster!  I didn't realize how much I missed my family until I actually saw them!  I went home for the 40th Anniversary of Andrew Jackson High School.  Please imagine those festivities as you wish.  My parents did an awesome job of helping plan the events though.  Yay Mom and Dad!   Then Saturday night was an adventure like always.  It consisted of a visit to the movies and back to Jamie's house for chocolate cake!  In the meantime, Caleb sticks his head out the window and loses his glasses on Highway 521.  Then thinks we should turn around and look for them.  Nice.  FBC was same old same old on Sunday.  I have missed those people.  There are some awesome individuals in that place.  Wagon Wheel was for lunch!  Praise!  Then a short nap and it was back to AU!  My time at home was too short!  Luckily for me, Jeanette is coming home with me this weekend for Labor Day! I love my family!  I'm thankful for them.  Some people don't care about going home once they get to college but I do.  Call it lame or childish.  I don't really care.  My family is cool and love me.  Why wouldn't I go see them.


Currently I am eating some of my grandmother's chicken salad.  (See.  I told you they are awesome!)  Just got done listening to some tunes for Musical Masterworks.  Who doesn't love a Concerto or a Sonata?  Now I'm blogging before class.  This week is going to be pretty great.  Matty's tomorrow night!  PRAISE!  Maybe swing dancing? I'm not positive.  Dinner Wednesday with Amelia!  BCM Thursday and home on Friday!


Now I should move on to thought provoking conversation.  People.  I've discovered in the past few weeks that people are do not necessarily keep their word.  When does it get to the point where you give up?  Or do you give up?  I think it depends on the situation.  Do you allow yourself to get hurt by the same individual(s) over and over again because you think it will be worth it in the end?  Or do you just walk away.  I think it's hard to say.  On paper, one would definitely say that they would walk away and give up.  But once you are in a situation, things change.  You look at the person, the reasons, and the situation.  You continue to think it is going to get better, but then you are let down once again.  


It happens in all types of relationships with people.  Relationships, friendships, familyships (yes I created that word), and even just mere acquaintances.  Sometimes it feels like we are always in a battle with another person, group of people, or ourselves.  It makes you wonder if you can trust anyone completely and what spoken words actually mean.  Because these people supposedly mean a great deal to us, are we to hold them to a higher standard and have greater expectations for them?  Part of me wants to say yes but people change or sometimes the person we thought we knew, isn't really that person at all. It's so sad and I wish it weren't so but it is.  


As Christians though, we are still called to love just as Christ loves us.  He did not give up on us when he was on the cross.  And to think about how many times I personally turn away from him.  Not intentionally of course but because of human nature, we all do.  Christ still loves me.  His love overcame the cross and the grave for me and for you.  Next time I have to deal with a difficult person or difficult situation, I need to remind myself that I need to love with the eyes and heart of Christ, not with the eyes and heart of Katie.  I must focus on having an attitude like Christ.    


"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2: 5-8


Is this difficult?  Absolutely but we are still called to do it.  Christ did not live an easy life and no where does it say life will be smooth sailing.  But it is an adventure.  One that has good days and bad days.  Hopefully at some point, I will realize why people choose certain actions, change (not always for the better), and sometimes simply hurt your feelings.  In the meantime, prayer is the answer. 


"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12.


God is love and fortunately has surrounded me with amazing people who uplift me and love me. That definitely outweighs the bad.  When I face difficult situations however, my faith is strengthened and Christ can work through me and be glorified!  Praise to him!


forget regret
-k


Ohh.... prayers are needed for a potential summer activity.  That's all I'm going to say now.  Just pray for guidance, for wisdom, and discernment.  Thanks! :)




Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Finally, a moment to blog!

Hello hello! I'm finally at AU! I moved in on Saturday! Move-in day could not have gone any smoother! It is so hard to believe that I have already been here over a week. It has been great so far! The first several days were great! Tons of activities to take part in. It's been a blast! I am living in Rouse and I LOVE my hall. I have some of the most incredible girls on my hall. They are so much fun to be around! Now a routine of some sort is starting to form. When I say routine...I mean a slam packed schedule! I took my first nap since I've been here today! It was incredible. I am going to try to do a better job of blogging too. I've been a slacker! (Sorry Mr. Eugene! I know you told me over a week that I need to get on that!) This weekend, Sara Ashley came and visited! It was super! I miss her so much! I tell her she should just move to Anderson University.

In church hunting news... Both Sunday's I've been here, I have gone to Newspring. I know there is some debate about Pastor Perry Noble and the way worship is done here but personally, I like it. Do I agree with everything that comes out of Perry's mouth? Absolutely not, but when do you ever agree with everything something someone says. If you always agree, then your faith is not challenged and when your faith is challenged, you grow. I love worship at Newspring, but I don't think it is where I want my church home to be. It's an awesome place to go on Sunday night's to worship but for church, I want something a tad smaller and mulit-generational.
Sunday morning we went to North Anderson Baptist. I liked it but I don't know if it is where God wants me to be. They do not have a college class which is a major set back for a college student. I definitely felt welcomed though and God is doing some awesome things there. I can definitely tell! He is present and alive in the people of that church. I might go back and visit again!
I'm going home the next two weekends so we'll see where I'm led after I come back.... stay tuned for that.

In other news, you think I attend AU, but actually I attend SFU! Swine Flu University. There is an outbreak of the regular flu and two cases of H1N1. Joy. People are being sent home and they have canceled campus worship tomorrow. It's bad when AU cancels worship. I have been sick this week but not with the flu. Just a horrible cough and when I say horrible, I mean I almost coughed both of my lungs up. It was pretty bad. Hopefully though I will be completely well tomorrow and stay FLU FREE!

I really know that I am in the right place here. This is exactly where God wants me to be. I know that God has put me here for a reason and a purpose and I am going to thrive and have a new experience each and everyday. I have seen God at work already here. First thing first, in October, I met Jeanette! I had no clue then she would be living on my hall and three doors down from me and a music ed major AND in three of my classes. God is good!
I had also been praying for a way to minister and really get involved in a ministry here at AU. I asked God for a way to be a light and be able to share what he has done for me with others. Well, a few days after I got to AU, I was asked to lead a small group in our dorm. I am so excited and thankful that God has blessed me with this amazing opportunity. I am excited about studying the Word of God with the people who I live the closest to! God is good again!
A few weeks before I left for Anderson, I had the opportunity to teach Sunday School and the Lord led me to teach on provision. When the Israelites were in the desert, God told them to trust in him and he would PROVIDE. In Exodus 16, we see the Israelites complaining to God and the Lord tells them exactly what to do and he keeps his promise. Over and over in the passage we see God provide for the Israelites. They cried out to him, and he was there. Just like the Israelites, God has provided for me. God has provided me with a great roommate and best friend, an amazing suite, great hall, great friends, great professors, and just an overall awesome experience so far. I am learning everyday that my God is enough and I need to find complete satisfaction in Him alone. He will protect, he will provide, and he has a plan. I can't wait to see what happens next...

forget regret.
-k

Saturday, August 15, 2009

A New Chapter

I am writing this in a quick quick hurry as Dad is loading some bunk beds on the trailer and Mom is getting ready! Today is the day! It's finally here. After a loooooong 19 years I am finally ready to move out and be on my own. It's very bittersweet. I was looking at a yearbook the other day as I was packing and it said: "Bittersweet: Bitter because you are leaving the ones you love but sweet because you are starting a new advernture." That is entirely true. Am I sad to leave my family? Absolutely! They are my rock and my support system. But I know that will not change just because I am in another part of the state. I am excited about what God has planned for me because I know that "they will be to prosper and not to harm. Plans to give me a hope and a future!" Jeremiah 29:11. It's time to go pack the car! See you guys when I'm at AU!

forget regret
-K

"There's a life that I am meant to lead. A life like nothing I have known..... There must be some where I can be... Astonishing" -Little Women