The Last Semester

In a few days, I will be beginning my last semester as an IWU college student. I'm excited and sad at the same time.

The last four years have been AMAZING. I have grown deeper in my faith through everything that I have experienced.

But I'm ready to move on. In a few short months, there will be no more chapel, classes, assignments, tests, etc.

After graduation I can finally do what God is calling me to: ministry. After almost a year of searching, I finally found an internship.

Yay!

I start my internship in early 2013 at Youth Unlimited, an organization based in Grand Rapids, MI. I am thankful that God provided for me.

So this semester I'm going to soak up every moment, because it's coming to a close.

For HIS renown,

~Susie

For His Renown

I have been given the gift of life.

I am called by God to glorify Him in everything I do.

Not some things, but in ALL things.

All things are true in Him.

Apart from Him, there is no righteousness or holiness in me. Even when I'm stuck going my own way, God is there waiting for me to return to Him.

All of me is for His renown.

I need to process that for a moment. Every part, every aspect of me is made for His renown.

Shouldn't that somehow influence the way I live?

Many times it doesn't, to be honest.

I just blend in to the world around me. I'm afraid to take a stand out of fear I will offend someone.

I can't shake that: I am here only for His renown.
Everything else is fleeting.

Always <3
For HIS renown,

~Susie

Happy August :-)

It's August 1st, one month closer to fall.

Yay!

Fall is by far my favorite season, I love pumpkin carving, seeing the leaves changing colors. It's just a beautiful season.

I love when summer begins to end, and fall starts.

A new season.

New lessons to be learned.

New ways for God to transform my life from the inside out.

That is my plea and my prayer: for God to continually transform me from the inside out.

I desire God to change the way I think (Romans 12:2) so I can change the world around me by His power at work in me. And one area I need God to change is the way I view love and sex.

Society has blurred the lines between love, sex, lust, and infatuation. How am I to navigate through all these different states?

Right now I'm learning the difference between love and sex.

This is a no brainer but sex never equals love.

I wish I couldn't say this, but because of life experiences, I have this conviction: having sex is easier than actually loving someone. Love is hard. It takes effort, dedication, and work.

This makes me think back to when I accepted Jesus into my heart, I made a commitment to follow Him.

Love is a commitment, a promise that can never be broken. This describes the kind of love God has for His people.

I believe I am meant, created, designed by God to radiate this kind of love to everyone around me.

When I do this, God is glorified and the world around me sees the love of God in me.

Genuine love can never be broken, but redeems those facing pain, brings light to those who live in darkness, brings hope and heals  those who are hurting, etc.

All for HIS glory + Always <3,

~Susie