The Long Trek Home

So we left Panama City Beach today. It was sad to see everyone leave and to leave myself. I am so grateful for what the Lord blessed me with this summer and how faithful He was in my life. But it had to come to an end sometime so today Matthew and I began the trip home. We drove 5 and a half hours to Peach Tree City where my room leader from the summer, Mary lives. We are now at her house and just hanging out. It was great to spend some time with Matthew in the car and to hang out with Mary and her family too. We are going to Atlanta tomorrow night and staying there Saturday. Then Sunday morning I fly home from Atlanta. Matthew will be staying for awhile in Atlanta and going on a canoe trip. I am so excited to get home and see everyone again. Only 2 and half days! :)

Series of Little Posts #5

A few parts of this psalm that shows the power and control that
God has over the earth and His greatness. This is beautiful.

Psalm 104: 1, 24, 27-35

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

24 How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

27 These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.

28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.

29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.

30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-

32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.

35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD.

Series of Little Posts #4

I just decided to sponsor a child through World Vision as a form of tithing and this morning signed up for one. Her name is Hameeda and she lives in India. She has my same birthday and is three years old right now. Hameeda lives with her parents and 1 brother. Her parents really struggle to provide for the family. She lives in a community severely affected by HIV and AIDS. I am so excited to be able to help support her through the Lord’s provision and see her grow throughout the years. She is adorable too!

Here she is...

Series of Little Posts #3

Friday (yesterday) was our last day working at McDonald's and at the beginning of the summer I thought that I would LOVE this day, but as it came, I found myself dreading it. It was definitely a challenge but was so good for me. We were able to get close to so many of our coworkers and two of them (Melissa and Nate) even reevaluated their lives and have began to life for Christ again. The other day I walked to the room where you take drive through orders and take money and one of the two, Nate, was back there memorizing verses. He said that he had seen us doing it and realized what a great use of time that was and seemed very excited about it. God did so many amazing things this summer at work and it was just so sad to leave. Here's some pictures...

Me and Nate

Me, Mary and Melissa

Kait and the Nuggets!

Me and Ovet

Roomies and Goodbye Cake

Me and Brenda

Series of Little Posts #2

We found out a couple of days ago that we will be leaving project this summer a day earlier than every one thought or what was planned. This caused me to really think about all that has happened this summer and the things that I will truly miss as I go home but also what I am looking forward to when I get home. So here they are..

Things I'll Miss...
1. The intense community with the Body of Christ.
2. My room mates and the accountability that they have given me this summer.
3. My brother and the ways we have gotten closer this summer.
4. The beach.
5. The learning times that we have been provided almost every night.

Things I'm Excited for Again...
1. Being back with all the people that I love.
2. Getting to implement all that I have learned into daily life at home.
3. Getting to share the Lord in real life situations.
4. Getting to see the new house all set up.
5. Having free time again.

Series of Little Posts #1

An Analogy that was given to me a couple of weeks ago...

After a long run one day, I went down to the beach, listened to my music, and just looked at the creation on the ocean. At this time, I had been really struggling with realizing that my childhood house would be moved out of when I got home and that we would be in a new house. This just felt like one of the comforts of my life was being stripped away and there were also other things going on that added to this feeling as well. As I was standing on the beach this analogy came to my mind and has truly been a blessing...

Standing in the Sand

As you stand barefoot on the beach, at first your footing is very solid, but as the waves come crashing up, the sand underneath you gets pulled out. This leaves you feeling very uncomfortable and many times one would take a step to gain solid ground again. The thing is that although it is uncomfortable for awhile, eventually the waves cover your feet with sand leaving you in a much more solid and 'guarded' place to stand.

This is like life. As we stand in life and the waves of God's love and discipline crash upon us, we might feel as though we are losing all of the security that we once had and want to try to stand in a new spot or move on to something else to try to get solid footing. The thing is, that if we just wait to the Lord to finish His work and stick out the uncomfortable times in life, we will end up being in a more solid and 'guarded' place by holding on to Christ.

At the beginning...

After the waves of life...