the plans of I AM

hello

it's me again

a thing called life has recently stood in my way of doing the things i want, but now i'm pushing back. i'm working harder than ever before to get a little exercise in and do all my homework while still bonding with my roomie and staying up late to get the feel of college life. no, it is not easy to put everything together, and yes, i am very tired. always. but, there won't always be a chance to have fun like i'm having, so i put off the boring for later in life and spin my wheels as fast as they'll go

i'm getting ready for two weddings this summer. one cousin on each side of the family were engaged within the last year and are both getting married in july. the most fun part? actually getting to celebrate the weddings instead of just attend them. i actually grew up with these people and now i get to see them start to love the men of their dreams. i will be there on their special nights to watch them exchange vows and trade rings meant for forever.

i'm just a little jealous :p

i shouldn't rush my life along but marriage is something a little girl thinks about her whole life, especially the wedding. a now, how can i not dream about the day that will be all my own? well, and my close-to-perfect man's day of course.

also, about the missions trip i attended on spring break.

wow

that's the best word to explain. which i know doesn't help you, the reader, much, but i cannot put into words how great that trip was.

the plane ride was awesome and i can't wait to get on my next plane. when we started to get close to the islands, the water is what mesmerized me next. the color in those photos you see in magazines, well that's exactly what color it is. no photoshop. then the accent is what caught me next. i love when they say, "Ok, baby." that is a signature phrase there and it sounds so cool. after that, the way the bahamian people respond to the message of Jesus just astounded me. they listen so intently and really act like they want to do exactly what your advising them. which who knows? maybe they are, which is the most wonderful news i've ever been given. as far as we know, around 45 people committed or recommitted their lives to Jesus because of our group. we street preached, gave surveys, handed out tracks, offered to pray with people and invited many to the church whose pastor attended our university a few years ago. the impact was overwhelming and i can't wait for my next mission trip, or for whatever God has in store.

like He says:

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, ' and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'" Jeremiah 29:11-14

you know, just a lil summin summin

"the silence is loud; ear-splitting loud, even," i think to myself as i sit here blogging for the first time in weeks. i take forever to think of the perfect words to put one after another. it takes time and thought to explain the amazing first weeks of being a christian; a real one, i meant to say.

you may ask, "haven't you been a christian all your life?"

to this question, i will answer yes.

i grew up in church and i sang in the choir and was in the youth group and did all that churchy stuff and was RELIGIOUS. that is the key word. but that isn't the whole story. on march 7, 2010, JESUS, the Savior of the world, the one and only Son of God, and the lover of my soul came to live in me, stand by me, and to hold my hand forever. on that day, i was saved from an eternal destiny in hell and from the worst punishment ever. he showed me his mercy by saving me from that punishment, which is what i deserved to have.

Jesus put his butt in the way and took a spanking that i definitely deserved. but thankfully (how can i express how grateful i am?) He did do that. He gave his life for me so i can have life. He took my shame and sin and guilt to the cross, died there, blameless, and sacrificed his life so i could have life and life eternal in heaven.

can you believe it? for me!!

but again, that's not the whole story. 3 days after they buried His body in a tomb, he rose from his grave. He conquered death and came back to life to prove that he is God and has power over everything, including the thing that scares most people to the thing itself: death. and that is why last sunday, EASTER, we celebrated, and still celebrate everyday, His resurrection.

and now about the past few weeks...

stay tuned for the rest of the story