If all we needed was to find the princess....

It's interesting how ironic some learning experiences can be. This past summer, Grace did a series of finances and at the leadership summit, I was reconvicted that when things get rough, that's when I need to cling to Jesus the most. I am thankful to have learned this early on in my life, but it's so easy to forget when you are filled with the blessings on God and nothing is really going wrong.

This past week and a half have been stretching in area that I've never truly had to deal with before. My car was totaled and my computer crashed in the same week. Note that I go back to school on Wednesday and start classes 2 weeks from today. I've had to buy a bike and books for classes and apply for this year's loan too. So it's all been awesome timing, but then again, when is it ever good? I'm learning what it means to trust God for all financial needs and really starting to grasp that since God owns it all, it is his to give to us or take away. While he may not provide us with $5000, he does give us all our needs.

Each day I've been learning something. Small or large. Funny or serious.

• It's quite annoying trying to rent a car when your under 25. You can do it, but it sure is a hassle that may be best not to mess with.
• When going on a bike ride, it's best to have more than coffee, an Oram's donut, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You need more substance, especially when you decide to ride in 90 degree weather with 80% humidity.
• Everytime I'm home, I difficulty remember that PA is not like IN. It's a much higher altitude and has hills. What are the odds? Makes it much more difficult on the heart and breathing when you're not used to it. :)
• Watching Inception 3 times will do something wierd to your brain.
• The line between want and need becomes very fine when deciding between a Dell and a Mac.
• Patience is something I will continually be learning about throughout my lifetime. Given the circumstances (like not hearing about money for my car 2 days before I leave), I'm terribly impatient. I also can't stand waiting in lines.
• Parents are wonderful people.
• Super Mario Brothers is a great way to get out frustration. It's also a great way to give you more frustration. :)

I know that all I need to do it trust God in each and every situation. He cares about our money, our schedule, and the characteristics we know we need to change. He's got it covered and all he askes is that we follow his leading.

Crashed Weekends and Bittersweet Spaces

After an eventful weekend, full of ups and downs (with more downs than ups), I am home from one of the best summers I have ever had. In short, my poor car got smashed (and the accident ended two cars ahead of me) on Saturday by a pregnant woman. And while it's super frustrating, especially since I had to fly home today and am not in Indiana to be with Guapo, I can't help but think about what I learned at the leadership summit. God sure has a way of making you practice what you learn. So, I will trust that everything will work out, that God is in control, and pray for a fixed/new car and possibly $5000 (The money because one of my friends got that much from an accident. Hey- it's worth a try, right? :-)) I'm just glad to be home at this point and ready to soak in the next week and a half of nothing before going back to school.

All in all, this whole week has been extremely bittersweet. I have fond memories of the experiences I had at Grace and the friends that I made. God was made new and fresh to me in a way I had been missing out on for a while. I have discovered new passions and desires in my life that I didn't know were there. For example, I love being challenged and am not satisfied with easy answers. I never want to think that I know everything about my faith. I always want to turn hard questions over in order to come closer to the truth or to be affirmed in what I already believe.

Second, I love (and possibly crave) experiences that take me out of my comfort zone. I want to go places where God is clearly present and where love is desperately needed. I will not be satisfied with staying in my comfort zone and I plan on taking people with me. Some day, I hope to be so compelled that people can't help but come with me into places they've never been before and meeting people they would never otherwise meet. I really don't know what all this means, but I fully hope to develop this desire (and maybe a direction for life) in the next year. This is because if I would describe the summer in any way, it would be that I have come out not having a clue with what to do with my life besides that I know that I'm called to love God and love others through full time ministry. Awesome. So direction? I could use some.

And for now, I just feels weird being in this spot of my life. I'm heading into my senior year of college. Weird. Seriously, where did time go? Next thing you know, I'm going to have life 5 kids in the back of a mini van. But for real, the world is at my fingertips; I'm in a place where there are endless possibilities and that's awesome and scary all at once. But, no worries. I'm not going to at least because I still have 9 months, am going to FULLY enjoy my senior year (in every sense) and know that if my ears are tuned for God's whisperings, He will give me direction and I will know what He wants me to do with him. And right now, that's finish school. :-)