Santa Cruz!

Greetings blogging world!
I'm coming back around to the world of blogging strictly as a means to document this summer in whatever way I can. Let me start this journey by bringing everyone up to speed.

Where?
I'm in sunny Santa Cruz, California on Summer Project for 10 weeks this summer (well, I guess now we can make that 9 more weeks). I've followed God's calling to bring me here and am LOVING every single part of life here.
What?
I'm working on the Boardwalk with my 57 other "crusaders" in hopes of reaching our coworkers with the gospel. For the first time, I'm working in food service for a company called Whiting's Food Service (each day, I'm at a different food stand on the boardwalk, making and selling everything from ice-cream cones to pizzas and icee's and garlic fries).

I've been here for a week, though it feels like I got here yesterday. I can't believe how fast time is already flying by, but I'm so thankful for all that I'm learning! The past week was jam-packed with training, getting-to-know-you games, outreach, and a crazy scavenger hunt.

I'm so astonished at how fast the time is already flying, but am so very thankful for this opportunity. I'm surrounded by amazing people--each of whom has something to teach me and I love dearly.

This post is QUITE random and scatter-brained, but as I think back on my first week here, that's exactly how it feels! Hopefully from here on out, I'll be better about blogging on a regular basis to avoid such an overload. In the meantime, please be praying over my summer's goals:

1. Pray that I would learn to be comfortable in bringing up spiritual conversations with my coworkers and that I would be equipped for evangelism this summer.
2. Pray also that my coworkers' hearts will be softened to hear the gospel and accept Christ eagerly!
3. Please be prayerful that this summer would teach me to be an effective and well equipped studier of the Word and disciple, and that these gifts would extend into my small group in the fall.

The good ol' Peter Pan --my home for the summer!

A view from above of the Boardwalk and beach area
(just a 5 minute walk down from the Pan)

Good News

I'm finally home. Finally here to completely relax and breathe. 

I can cook, shower without wearing shoes, sit with my sweet Charlie dog, drive my car, and sleep in my own giant, unlofted bed. Not to mention all the things I'm ecstatic to do this weekend, but I cannot wait to see my sweet friend Emily and my sister Sarah. I have missed both of these girls so incredibly much over the past two months, and time to relax with them will be absolutely wonderful. 

To add to the happiness to be home, I have been welcomed with some WONDERFUL news! My daddy, who underwent intense radiation and chemotherapy this past summer for tonsil cancer, got his first test results back today since ending treatment. ...and they're clear! No more cancer! God is so so so SO GOOD! 

He'll have another scan in another six months, s0 we'll continue praying for physical and spiritual healing throughout this process. Until then, I'll be praising Jesus for the growth and restoration that's already been so evident in Dad's life since the start of all this just five months ago.

Have Faith

Ever get that feeling that you've created your own enemy? 

I certainly did. 

Pursuit of God's presence is what I live for. I thrive to feel close to Him, to feel His love, and to feel his Holy Spirit. But what happens when you don't feel anything?

Discouraging doesn't even begin to describe how absolutely defeated and alone I feel. I'd sit down to read my Bible or pray and get nothing. Nothing. It seemed useless. And here, in the time when I felt like I needed God most in the spiritual battle raging through philosophy class, I was left to fend for myself.

Left alone?

Never.

By God's grace, He gave me the good friends and leaders around me to encourage and point me towards the truth: He's here.

True, I may not feel anything, but Pastor JD Greear helped me to remember where my feelings actually fit in with my relationship with God this past weekend at Summit Church. To put it simply, feeling should be the last thing to ever fuel my relationship in Christ. Faith follows fact, and feeling follows faith. My feelings grow out of my faith, but can be so easily swayed by outside influences, both good and bad. JD went on to say, "the feeling that you are saved and close to God is the fruit of the gospel, but they are not the basis of your assurance. The finished work of Christ is the basis of your assurance of salvation and God's presence."

Silly feelings. I know in my head what I believe, but so often I let my emotions get the best of me, plaguing me with doubt and discouragement. Lucky for us, God doesn't judge us by our feelings and emotions, nor does He act based upon how we feel. He is forever unchanging, always with us.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 

the conviction of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1

Rain, Rain, Go Away

My plea for the weekend. It's time for Cornerstone's fall retreat, and I was so excited to camp out this year in my new eno hammock. But, considering the 70% chance of precipitation (not just rain though, the little pictures are of the lightning bolts and dark clouds) I'd say we have a minor setback.

Let's pray for some sunshine, people! 

Armor

Hard to believe how long it's been. I had no idea that being back at school would be so busy this year, but here I am finally to post, and putting off another assignment that I'll most likely finish just before class tomorrow.

Speaking of class, there is one in particular that has cause me much grief already. And we're only just beginning.
Philosophy. 
It should come as no surprise that philosophy class taken at such a liberal school would be taught by an atheist, but the hostility of it is like a slap in the face. It's a constant battle and argument between believers and nonbelievers, about the existence of God on every level you can imagine. Already, I've seen my fair share of doubt and depression from the questions raised about why people choose to believe. Not only am I struggling with the curriculum, but the way people talk about things is equally hard to hear. Some can be so ignorant and hostile when talking about religious matters, and most often, it comes from the nonreligious. It's as though the course material, which I already have problems with, is taught by a bunch of hateful, angry people who want nothing more than to see my demise as I turn from God.
...Newsflash: that's not in my future.

Needless to say, every class, discussion, and message created online has made me aware of just how important it is to put on God's armor. I leave class feeling beat up, as if I have been attacked. No surprises there, I am. This classroom is like a battlefield, an arena for spiritual warfare. Fortunately, I have found myself learning what it means to be in daily dependence on Jesus and find the power of His name.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." 

Ephesians 6:10-13

ReCap.

It's crazy how much time has passed since I was last ranting about my life here. ...It feels like it's been years, but it was actually just a couple short weeks jam-packed with all sorts of happenings.

Countdown Re-Cap:

10. Visit to Columbia to see my beautiful sister and brother-in-law. Love them.
9. Last day of work at PBK. Undeniably sad.
8. Packing up and saying goodbye to my dear, beloved, non-UNC friends.
7. Move-(back)-in Day! Crazy, chaotic, hectic, and sweaty, but well worth it.
6. Hillsong United concert. Best. Night. Ever. (Third row seats, nbd)
5. Fall Fest! 600+ clubs crammed onto South Rd for the ultimate in free-give-aways.
4. Classes started. ...Boring, but interesting.
3. Class schedule change-a-roo. Always necessary and unavoidable.
2. Hoedown (hurricane) Throwdown. Cowboy boots, square dancing, and all things western.
1. Another year older. ...Starting off another year of school and a whole new decade of life.

A lot has happened, but I am so thrilled to be back at school with my fun friends, awesome ministries, beautiful campus, and (though I'll regret this in a week,) interesting classes. Praying that this next year to come is full of laughter, joy, and growth for His kingdom in immeasurable ways!

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