AWAKE

It's that time of year again.

I'm home for Thanksgiving break and instead of posting what I'm thankful for, I want to reflect on something completely different.

Last Friday night I got an email from this organization PULSE movement, who promotes and organizes outreach events for college students at state universities. This specific event was held at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus). When I read the email that listed prayer requests for the event, my heart broke.

At the same time, something clicked. Why was I sleeping (in the metaphorical sense) when I should be awake?  I don't want to be "asleep" to all God does in the world. I want to be awake to His work in the world.

 I have attended IWU for the past 3 years. While I love my school; it breaks my heart to see the spiritual climate dwindling. As a student, I am required to attend chapel 3 times a week. This is sad to admit but my freshman year, I loved chapel; it refreshed my soul and encouraged me to pursue God and His heart.

Now 3 years later, I no longer depend on chapel for growth. I depend on my own personal devotion time. The issue I have with chapel are the speakers are random; I don't see how their topics are relevant to my life right now.

I don't mean to "bash" chapel; I appreciate their efforts. I just think and ask myself, "Is there anything more than this? and "What has happened to all the passion in our faith?"

Then I thought back to the outreach event held at the University of Minnesota. I thought how a large number of people might be reached for the Gospel, how God has the power to move at at state university.

And here I am. At a small private Christian university; where we should be passionate about what we believe in and not rest until everyone hears about a love that goes beyond what they know.

I'm not saying there aren't any on campus; I just don't see it.

That brings me to where I am right now in life.

God has called me out of mediocrity into a life of crazy passion of Him and His renown. It has taken me so long to reach this place in my life with God. I am now AWAKE.

I won't go back to "sleep" until the world hears about a love that changes their life.

All for HIS glory + ALWAYS <3

Slow Down

 I finished reading "Becoming a Contagious Christian"  last week and I wanted to include an excerpt:

      

      "To become a real Christian is to humbly receive God's gift of forgiveness and to commit to following His leadership. When we do that, He adopts us into His family, and begins to change us from the inside out..." (Becoming a Contagious Christian p. 156)

The phrase "Change us from the inside out" really stuck out to me. When God begins to change me, He starts with what is inside- my heart and mind. As that begins to evolve I reflect how and in what ways growth is evident on the outside.

This is obvious: God changes me from the inside out.

I was also reminded of the Hillsong United song "From the Inside Out" and how changes always come from God, not me.

A couple weeks ago, in chapel, the speaker talked about the differences between body and spirit [soul].

I began to reflect on how my spirit is limitless. And since my spirit is, my spiritual life is also boundless.

My spiritual life can never be limited by my humanity.

I'm nearing the end of the semester at IWU and, honestly, the last few weeks are dragging by.

Usually I'm crazy busy with assignments and projects.

This semester is the opposite...things are starting to slow down.

"Be still and know that I am God" -Psalm 46:10

I was shaken by this verse.

"Be still"

How often do I just stop?

I need to stop...be still...rest in His presence...for the satisfaction of my soul.

It's in the stillness I have intensive moments of growth.

peace-

:-)

Moments Can Change into Movements

This past weekend was Fusion youth conference here at Indiana Wesleyan University. On Friday, in chapel, the speaker talked about how conferences like Fusion is just a moment in time.

Here then gone.

This year I had the honor of hosting 2 students.

That was just a moment but it had eternal implications.

This made me think back to my days when I went on youth conferences which were just moments but they changed into movements where God changed my life.

I also thought about Summit here, how it's a moment but it changes into growth...a movement.

I have "moments" in my devotional life that slowly change into a God movement.

Moments can last into eternity.

peace :-)