i'm going to let you know of the places that I have seen God.
I will not lie, it takes some getting used to- studying all the time without much time to hang out with friends, and making intense priorites by not doing anything but studying because you don't have time... but in the extreme mix of life, with little ups and downs. i have seen God. just like they ask us every week at RCIA.
1. when alan and I went on a walk all the way to Griffy Lake in the rain, there was God. Natural. Organic. Like the God we know. the beautiful, holy, simple, natural, God. taking us out to the lake, stopping our hearts with the colours, and renewing us with silence :)
2. in RCIA, where I've met Aaron, my band director, and Lauren, who is supposedly my sponser- even though i'm not sure i'll be joining the Catholic faith. God's been working on my faith and really what i believe in by being in this class. I'm asking questions, gaining answers, crying out to God, and finding more direction- even though I don't know the total outcome of this yet.
3. Old Testament Studies, Modern Dance, Finnish language, and my Journalism classes. I honestly will tell you that God picked my classes this semester, because I love every single one. Old Testament helps me to really indulge in what i love most- spending time with God, studying his word, and understanding him so much more :) Modern Dance wakes up my physical love for movement, and physically- at 8am in the morning :) Finnish language, which will allow me to probably go over to Finland and live with my grandma or aunt for a summer, and even maybe get an internship. and I LOVE the 8 people in my class :) And finally my journalism classes, where i stress out about not having time to write my papers, but LOVE it when i'm actually writing them. learning about different styles of newspaper writing, and also with visual communication, and audio slideshows- with photos and sounds... which open both my ears and eyes :) I love my classes. Go God!
4. in my work- the Career Development Center. where he's placed me perfectly, to be able to develop my career. and explore and research, and find out what he wants me to do in life after college. which i probably won't know for a while! but it's okay. i'm trusting Him :) there was this one time at work that i listened to pandora- gospel music- while i was downstairs, stressing out with how many people were in the center and how much studying i had to do. then whlie listening to gospel music, i read Lee, my sunday school teacher's email, and there- was "be still and know that I am GOD" "continue in what you know and have been ASSURED of". and then God got me.
I have time.
I will be provided for.
It will be okay :)
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There's 4, 4 really awesome things that God is molding me with. Among daily morning devotions with him, that I squeeze in. I'm realizing that if i don't have time with Him, it's so easy to get caught up in the self-dependence wave that swells over college students at every moment. that's the key, to make time to worship and depend on Him.
I will say that because of studying, it's hard to find the time, but i love studying old testament studies, because it's like time with Him. Also, i haven't worked out in about a week and a half due to studying for this midterm, but it's okay. It's a bit of a struggle because i still need to eat to have energy but i have no time to go work off that food, with work-band-and classes happening all the time.
But I am God's. He created me beautifully. So I will take care of it, and let it do what it may :) Because He knows where I am.
Other than that, I'm doing well friends and family. Thank you so much for food, Mom- I thank God before my meals now. for providing me food :) and if Aunt Deb is out there. I'm thinking about you :)
Be still guys, that's what we need more than anything..
KEY NOTE: I smelled this tea that i brought home from indonesia and made yesterday night when alan and i were studying together... brought me back to a beautiful experience in indonesia.
When i was up in the nunnery- and experienced a demon possessed man, a beautiful overwhelming prayer, an inspired moment to start fasting, and becoming clear in mind, with nothing on the walls of the room, simple down to the tea that i drank instead of eating--- up in the mist and fog in the mountains of Puncak. remember? I did, and almost cried. because it was so purifying.
I would love to go back to that time, but to even just relive it, is a blessing.
Go God.
--- so the book that i'm reading to continue letting God purify my insides and clean my cup- is 31 Days of Praise, by Ruth Myers (thank you mommy :] ). I recommend it, to remember who you are in comparison to WHO WE WORSHIP!
Go GOD :) Thank you for this time that I had to write, and please keep my heart and mind awake as i memorize Finnish words on my way to class, because there's a quiz today. Terima Kasih Kau!