Sovereign

This last weekend I got to spend lots of time with my roommate Claire. We laughed, talked, did ridiculous things, tried to do homework, and listened to lots of music. We blasted country music (because Makenna wasn't home and she hates country music!) and shared our favorite worship songs. Claire played a song for me by Chris Tomlin that so perfectly describes what God has been constantly reminding me of the last few weeks. As I think about graduating soon (like in 102 days soon!), where I am moving for the summer, and what I am doing next year, God has given me a peace that surpasses all understanding in knowing that he is SOVEREIGN. He is before and above all things. He is all-knowing. Every time I begin to fret about finding a job, making a career choice, or even just paying for groceries, God whispers to me "Trust Me, child". TRUST. ME. CHILD. The detail-oriented, list-making, planner in me goes a little crazy but is able to take a deep breath at the same time. This song says "In your everlasting arms, all the pieces of my life, from beginning to the end, I can trust you." As I've been praying for this semester and this year and what will happen after graduation, there is nothing I can do but trust God. Claire and I were talking over dinner one night and she reminded me that we are loved by the God who moves mountains why wouldn't we trust him? Ain't that the truth. I have not be able to stop listening to this song since I heard it on Saturday and love it because it so perfectly describes where I am right now. We serve a God who is GREATER than the unknown. A God who is working now for things that are going to happen in the future. Each day I have to trust him. "God whatever comes my way, I will trust you." When Claire told me it was a Chris Tomlin, I was a little surprised I had never heard it before, but I know that I did hear at the exact time I needed to. God has been reminding me each day that is sovereign over all. May you find peace in this incredible truth today.

God is a Faithful God

I really love New Years. Maybe it's because of the traditions of having a house full of people over on New Year's Eve and making lots of noise in the driveway at midnight, maybe it's sleeping in and waking up to watch the Rose Parade, or maybe it's the tradition of having pork roast and sauerkraut on New Year's Day. While these lovely things are all a part of the reason I love New Years, I think the sense of hope and excitement so many people feel is what makes today one of my favorite holidays.

So many people reflect on the many blessings from the last year and wait with eager expectation of what the next year holds and I can't help but praise God for his goodness and faithfulness in my life. This last year was filled with so many wonderful things and I am in awe of how great our God is. As I was reflecting on what 2013 held, I was blown away at God's faithfulness. I would say the highlights of last year were running two half-marathons when I never thought I would do that in a million years, working at Mount Hermon in Santa Cruz and learning what it meant to live an upside life and trust Jesus in a way I never had before, getting to plan events for AS at school as the Social Events Coordinator and realizing how much I truly LOVE planning events, and joining Crossfit Brea and getting to be a part of a new community I never imagined I would enjoy so much. Thinking about all the amazing experiences I had in the last year, God has been so incredibly faithful in providing work, friendships, endurance, and blessings in my life. At the very beginning of 2013, I registered for my first half-marathon. I had no idea what a life changing experience that would be! Working at Mount Hermon was such an amazing experience I will never forget and I am so thankful for every moment of this last summer. My job in AS planning events has been such a dream and I am so blessed to be in my position every day. I had no idea I would love my job and the people I work with so much. I think leaving my job in May is going to be one of the hardest parts about leaving Biola. Crossfit has been such a blessing in my life and I so thankful that God led me to Crossfit Brea last semester. I have enjoyed getting to know other people, loved working with new trainers, and have loved a new approach to fitness.

As I look ahead to 2014, I am so excited to see what our amazing and faithful God has in store. I'm not entirely sure of what the next year will look like but I know that God has never proven himself not faithful and he will not start now! He will guide me where I am supposed to work after graduation, provide a place to live, and help me finish college (and survive another dreadful TPA). This is going to be a year of new adventures and trusting the Lord like never before! With the uncertainty of what life will look like in just a few, short months, I find peace in knowing that God is SOVEREIGN. As you look ahead with expectations of what this new year will hold for you, rest in the grace and faithfulness of our sovereign Lord!

The Gift of Feet

I know a lot of people who are completely grossed out by feet. I don't mind them, but other people's dirty feet can irritate me sometimes. This morning on my run, all I {mostly} thought about for seven miles was what a gift our feet are to us. If I didn't have two feet, I wouldn't get to do so many things I love! I couldn't drive, I couldn't feel the sand between my toes and the ocean, and I couldn't run! As I started to reflect on the last year, I realized I have run over 300 miles, ran two half marathons, am training for another one, and joined a crossfit gym. These are all things I love and am so incredibly blessed by the opportunity to do them. God has revealed so much to me on the journey of running, and now crossfitting, and I am so thankful for each step of the way.
Thinking about feet made me think about shoes and how blessed we are to have shoes to protect our feet when we go places. There are so many people in the world who do not have one pair of shoes and I have so many different kinds! WHAT A BLESSING!!! My favorites are definitely my rainbow flip flops, I don't go ANYWHERE without them! They are the absolute best. I also love my purple crossfit shoes. I love the bright color and love what I get to do when I wear them..except mountain climbers. Mountain climbers are my least favorite..give me burpees over mountain climbers any day! My running shoes that I got for my birthday last year and I have used for all my training and races, have run a lot of miles with me and they are something I will always be thankful for. They've taken me lots of places and experienced lots of things with me. I feel a sentimental attachment to these shoes because by the grace of God I have accomplished things I never in a million years thought I could do.
All this led me to think about how Jesus traveled many miles by foot. He was able to meet people and minister to the sick, poor, and hard to love as he traveled from town to town by foot. I am excited to see where God takes me as I journey through life!

So what I'm really trying to say is, I am extra thankful today that we have feet to run and feel the sand between our toes.

Praise Christ for the simplest blessings :)

Fall Leaves

This morning on my run, I was surprised to see so many fall leaves. While I know this favorite season of mine is in full swing, we live in California. So I wasn't really expected to see leaves falling from the trees until December. I mean it's supposed to be 80 this weekend! Despite the unpredictable weather in sunny Southern California, it actually felt like fall this morning! I couldn't resist going on a run! There were so many beautiful leaves on the ground I wanted to stop under every tree and pick up my favorites..though I refrained so I could get my miles in. However, when I was almost home, I did pause for a moment and pick up a leaf. I picked out this one leaf from all the rest that were there on the side of the road. It wasn't a perfectly colored and crunchy leaf, but I thought it was beautiful. Then it hit me. The way I see this leaf is the way God sees us. He pick us out from all the rest. He loves the way we look and the unique qualities that we have. Though we change like the seasons, he still loves us the same. He never changes. He remains constant as the seasons come and go. Sometimes leaves are green and beautiful and soaking up the sun and other times they fall down to the ground. The Creator of the seasons takes such delight in the beautiful we display whether we are luscious and green with blossoms in the spring or if we are brown and on the ground in the fall. He uses us to radiate who he is. Even the leaves lying in the street proclaim his beauty. God can use the simplest things to speak to us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Dreaming of a Midwest fall,
Amanda

Summer Recap: GREATER GOD

This summer I got to be a part of a phenomenal staff of 50 people and work with hundreds of students during my nine weeks at Ponderosa Lodge at Mount Hermon. I could easily say, without hesitation, that this summer was the best summer of my life and I would not have changed a single thing about it! Not only did I get to work with amazing people and students, but I also got to live in the mountains, 15 minutes from the beach. Does it get much better than that?! I am so thankful for the incredible people I met, loved working with “big kids”, learned new things about myself and grew in my relationship with God in ways I never have before. Our summer theme for camp was UPSIDE DOWN, live like you belong to another world. After living in a colorful world that looked like a mix between an Alice in Wonderland scene and a Dr. Seuss book for two months, the transition home was more difficult than I anticipated. I went into minor culture shock as I returned to school about four hours after I got off a plane from camp. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my fellow Upside Downians and miss doing life and worshipping everyday with the remarkable brothers and sisters the Lord blessed me with this summer. As a staff, we focused on the theme “Great call, GREATER GOD.” This summer, God opened my eyes to what a GREAT God he truly is. This is not a lesson that ended August 18^th when I left Ponderosa Lodge with tears in my eyes. God has continued to reveal this to me as I’ve been back at school this year. Our God is greater than stress at work, feeling exhausted from lack of sleep, loads of homework, and details of planning a huge event. Each day I am blown away at the ways our God is working in our lives.

In continuing to learn about our GREATER God, he keeps reminding me to trust him. Because he is GREATER than anything we face, how can we not trust him?! So often I let little things get to me but this summer I began to learn how to let those things go and trust in the sovereignty of our GREATER God. This is definitely something I’m still working on!

Now that I’ve been home from camp for about month, I’ve had some time to process the amazing summer I had. A year ago this time, I had NO idea I would get to spend my summer the way I did. I had just started to think about maybe working at Mount Hermon and a friend encouraged me to do so. While he tried to tell me what a life changing experience it would be, nothing could prepare me for what the Lord had in store this summer. The last two summers I worked with elementary students doing day camps in Southern California and I thought is God really sending me to Northern California to work with junior high and high school students?! Are you sure God? Lots of people asked why I didn’t want to work with younger students and I told them I really felt called to work with older students this summer..even though the thought scared the living day lights out of me! I am still in awe of the ways God revealed himself to so many students and our staff this summer. Each day I heard incredible stories and saw lives being transformed. I am praying and hoping I can return for one more summer before “real life” begins after student teaching next fall but trusting that our GREATER God already knows what he has in store!