Thoughts.

I cant believe semester two has begun. I’m finally moved back in, settled and classes are in full gear. Even though yesterday was our first day of classes, my only class was yoga. It was a real rough day... Ha. Today was my first “real” day of classes and I’m actually pretty psyched. My schedule certainly isn’t going to be easy, but I have some pretty awesome teachers so far, and that makes all the difference in the world.

Today I was thinking about relationships. Relationships between friends, family, significant others, roommates, class mates, I could go on and on and on... Our lives are chalk full of relationships! If you think about it, relationships are so vital to our lives. According to Maslow, a famous psychologist for those who aren’t familiar with the name, love and belonging through relationships are a basic human need. Im honestly not really sure where im going with this… but isn’t that a crazy thought? I think about my life without relationships in it… it would be so empty, I would be miserable! I do consider myself a social person, but even for someone who isn't social, relationships are still so important. I rely on my relationships with others for so many things. I rely on my parents to be there for support (both moral and financial!) and guidance and love. I rely on my friends to be there for me, to talk to and to listen, for good company, a laugh or a good time. I rely on church and faith group to help me to grow in my faith and help me to continue to walk on the right path, worshipping, and just times of fellowship together. 

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

How encouraging it is to have a solid friend or companion by your side, to guide you in your walk with Christ and in other things! I have a hard time finding time and motivation to go to the gym on a routine basis. My good friend Charissa and I became gym buddies, and we encourage one another to get our butts out the door and even at the gym we push each other and get an awesome work out. Without her encouragement I don’t know if Id make it to the gym as much as I do!

Another example of this in my life is something my boyfriend and I just began doing- daily devotionals. We use one online, and on our own time we read it and try to talk about it later in the day. This is something that keeps me on track. Not only does he hold me accountable, but I want to continue to grow with him in Christ and spend my own time with God. Being so far away from each other, this is a really awesome way to do it.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." Phillipians 2:1-2

We are wired to work and be with other people, to have relationships with one another, both in communities and with each other. Ill leave you with this verse, as it describes how everyone has a place and a function, and cant live just on their own.

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." 1 Corinthians 12:17-18

Random thoughts turned into a long blog, hope you enjoyed!

Follow your heart.

It was almost this time last year (give or take a couple months) that I had a conversation with my dad that I will never forget. Whether he realizes it or not, he said something that really stuck with me. It was a really hard time in my life where I was faced with a really difficult decision. I was confused and lost and I really didn’t know which direction to run. When I’m feeling that way, my dad is always the best person to talk to for advice and the honest truth. When I was talking to him, one thing he said was this. If you are praying about something and seeking God, you just need to follow your heart and you really cant go wrong. It just hit home pretty hard. It was so true… as hard as any decision may be, if you are praying and seeking God about what to do, all you can do is follow your heart. This certainly is a lot easier said than done. It’s not easy to have that blind faith… not only in God but also in yourself. You really need to trust yourself and that gut feeling, because 9 times out of 10 it’s where you should be going. I wont go into it, but that decision I made was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I followed my heart and I followed where I heard God calling me. Did I have doubts? Absolutely. I over think most everything, its a character flaw I really need to work on. For a while I questioned myself, some days were harder than others where I thought I had made the wrong decision and ruined my future forever. But my thinking was out of line, because I did make the right decision for myself and although some days are hard even today, my life has changed drastically. A lot of things have changed over the past year and something pretty amazing is taking place as a result of the decision I made that day. I’m so excited to see where God is taking me and leading my life. The road ahead isn’t going to be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.

Dwelling On The Destination.

So. I have had my epiphany. I was driving down the highway the other day and just thinking about things and I had a mild realization. Disclaimer: its nothing huge, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. Its also very cliché, but its something that we as human beings tend to lose sight of especially for someone like me, who is antsy and so much anticipating the rest of my life out of school. I realized that for one; it is going to do me absolutely no good to not be content with the life I am living right now, the life of a college student. In fact, I should be doing the exact opposite… I should be enjoying the life I am living right now as a student. I have so many incredible opportunities right here, right now in Massachusetts. I am working on getting Intervarsity started on my campus and have the role of president. I’m learning some pretty amazing stuff and I’m about to start my first clinical as a nursing student. I have two and a half more years and there’s no changing that… why be bumming out about something that is not going to change any time soon? I want to look back on these years and remember a time of my life that I enjoyed and changed lives and changed a campus that didn’t know what it meant to be a Christian. Even if I touch as many lives that I can count on one hand, that will be enough. This thing we call life is a journey, its an adventure in itself. There are going to be a few stops on the way, goals reached, turning points in life. But life isn’t about the destinations, life is about the journey. You have to love the journey on your on in order to love the destination you want to reach. Its what makes reaching the destination worthwhile. Of course, the destination is amazing, and its good to think about once in a while for some inspiration, a light at the end of the tunnel if you will… but what’s the use of dwelling on something far down the line? If you are dwelling on the destination, you’re never going to get there because you are going to be stuck thinking about it, never having even moved.

Craving.

January already? Insane. I am almost half way through my college journey… whack. Winter break has been nothing short of refreshing. Being home with my family, seeing old friends and being in the town I have spent my 19 years of life in. I am so fortunate and blessed to be where I am, to have an education, a family, extended family within minutes of my house, better friends than I could ever ask for, my dogs, the beach, I have everything I need plus so much more…. And yet the past few days I have really been struggling with being unsatisfied with the life I am living. I’m not sure what has brought it on. Maybe too many days of doing nothing exciting, too much time sitting at home, too much time in Hamilton. Despite everything I have, I want something more. Don’t think I have figured this out and have some outstanding epiphany to share about this, because I don’t. I figured I'd write about it and maybe figure it out here. I had a talk with my brother yesterday, its funny because he was feeling the same way. He wanted change, something different. Tired of living life he does right now. He is only 15 with so much life ahead of him, and will only have to fight through the next couple years of high school and he is off to adventure the world of college. A couple years compared to the rest of his life is such a short time. I guess the same goes for me though, two more years of college then off to the real world, I can do all the adventuring I want. Grad school, doctors without borders, world vision, California… So much I want to do, I just wish I could do it now. Until then, I suppose I just really need to be praying and seeking God, finding satisfaction in Him, because I certainly wont find it in the world. If you are reading this and find you can relate, here are a few verses. I am going to challenge myself to find everything I need and more in the Lord, not in the lack of adventure and craziness in my life.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

I need to curb this craving with what only God can give me. I need to delight in the Lord. This unsatisfaction is worldly and superficial, two things I wont stand to be. God, help me to find whatever I'm searching for in you.