I just want you all to know today that...

God thinks you are absolutely wonderful. He loves you so much and smiles upon you. He made you...you are His masterpiece and He doesn't make mistakes. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.

remember that amidst everything else.

So it's been absolutely ridiculous how long I've put this thing on hold...what?!

This whole semester has been crazy. I've got some fairly crazy classes. I've got loads of classes and it's been an adjustment to not live on campus. All of it has been crazy awesome, though. God has truly shown me that when He calls us to do something, out of faith, it's a beautiful thing. Not living on campus was a scary decision, but honestly, it's been a great one. I love everything about it.

Here's a devotional thought for the day (or week, however long it takes me to update again)...

Most mornings I try to stay asleep as late as I can. I know this is really sort of weird because I'm definitely more of a morning person than night person. It doesn't bother me to wake up early, I just really value my sleep. :) So when it's time for me to wake up, if I'm not awake yet, someone usually comes in my room and turns the light on. It wakes me up instantly. Now, if I'm truly not ready, there are ways to avoid it. I can shove my head under the pillows or blankets. I roll over. There are options, but the light makes it hard to stay asleep, regardless of how deep I am sleeping. If I still refuse to get up, there's usually more of a process involved. Someone physically talking to me or waking me up. It's at that point that I'm frustrated because I realize the light that came on a half hour prior was enough to wake me, I was just too stubborn to get up.

Think about it. God calls us to get up and follow Him. His light is bright. When we're trying to stay away from getting up to follow Him, His light is enough to awaken us, enough to cause us to not be able to lay down. This light should fill us with excitement. We should embrace that and run toward Him. We should be ready to get up and face whatever is coming rather than allowing ourselves to be distracted and cover up that light. But God NEVER gives up on us...He finds other ways to motivate us and pull us along...and then we begin the journey and realize how good it is...it's then that we question...
Why didn't I get up and go when the light came on the first time?

That's all for now..

the shortened condensed version of the last month

Have I seriously waited almost a month to write again?

So much has happened in a month...I'm officially a sophomore in college! I guess that's something to celebrate?

I've decided that college is so comfortable! Everything I need is right there in front of me...my friends, my books...everything. It's also easy to forget about everything and just realize what I have there. I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss the easy escape into my own personal time and the easy release from it. It's just weird.

I'm also really excited about the summer and my internship, though. God's doing amazing things and I'm excited to see what all that means. I have really learned to trust Him fully and see what all He has in store.

I'm also really, really sad. My dear friend ashton needs our prayers in a major way...I just can't imagine what she is going through.

Until later..

Alexa

thought life

Wow! Life has gotten so crazy I haven't even had time to think about updating this--ok, that's not entirely true, but the thought sure doesn't have time to stay long!
Something that I've really been thinking about this weekend came from a conversation that stemmed in my Discipling class. Someone in there said that we need to make sure our thoughts are constantly focused on God and that we need to make sure they are going directly toward Him in all circumstances. Then I realized that on the few times(and might I emphasize few) that I have time to focus on being silent and I don't have a million other thoughts demanding my attention, I'm not sure that my thoughts do go directly toward God. Are they reflecting on Him and His greatness? I wish I could say yes, but unfortunately, that isn't how it always is. I can think about my busy week, my friends, my family, more homework, sleep, facebook, food, lots of things, and God may occasionally be in there, too, but for the rank I believe He has in my life, I don't think He's getting all of the thought time He should be. I need to focus on that more instead of merely going through like normal.
Psalm 10:4 says "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God"
I don't want that to be where I am. I don't want to be prideful or wicked, I want my thoughts to allow plenty...more than plenty...of room for God!
That's something I'd like to encourage all of you with this week! Just remember how wonderful He is and allow your thoughts to be directed toward Him and consumed by Him. I know I'm going to work on that!

God has given me an amazing opportunity and I am ready for it! I have recently been given the Camps Ministry Coordinator position here at HU for one of the floors of one of the buildings! I'm so excited! I know that God gave me this chance and it was completely Him who provided the position! I'm excited to meet new people and work with new girls in leadership! I'm also excited to use the gifts and skills God has given me. I pray that He would equip me and prepare the hearts of those to whom I will be around. I also want to be humble...I in absolutely no way feel that I am higher or more spiritual than anyone because I was given this role. I think that this is a way for me to help disciple people as well as for other girls to disciple me. I think that there will be some pretty amazing opportunities and since I'm in a new building with new girls, it will be a great chance for me to come out of my shell!
I'm so excited about this and I'm ready to see how God will work! It's been a trying time for the last few weeks and this was a nice chance of pace for me :)

no more worries?

So...finally, the time I've been waiting for...(yes, go ahead, give a drum roll...) SPRING BREAK! This break is so needed! I've been crazy busy with homework and everything else and this break will be incredible as long as much sleep, much relaxation, and little obligation is involved :)
That's the reason I haven't had a chance to update this. I also haven't had much of a chance to think about anything I want to put on it either.
Here's a verse that I've known for years(most of you probably have, too) but it's been on my heart a lot this week and I've been thinking about it...
Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus."
WHOA...pretty sweet stuff! I often find myself being anxious and nervous and worrisome about EVERYTHING...I find myself asking questions about everything..."do I have time for this?" "is this really what I want?" "what if it doesn't work out?" etc, etc, etc....
So instead of worrying, I should present those requests to God? YES! So awesome :) He cares...and I need to remember to do it with Thanksgiving, He's so good and I need to be thankful for that! But the coolest part is, when we do this...HIS peace, yes, peace is going to guard my heart and mind! So wonderful!
I long for peace...all the time! I want to feel at peace and feel God's peace and have Him be in control of my heart and mind. :)
Along with this I've been thinking about 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you"
That's the stuff! He CARES about YOU! He wants to hear about all of your problems...from the most serious stuff up until the little tiny stuff...He is crazy about you and He loves you soooo much...He wants to hear about our problems :) Think about it, guys, how often do we find a friend that listens to EVERYTHING without stopping us to tell us about themselves or something? It's not that often, really. I have some really incredible friends, but this is one awesome example of a friendship :)
I just wanted to bless you all with that this week!
happy spring :) Enjoy this sunshine!

What a crazy week! Between classes, different meetings, homework, and everything else, it's been nuts! I'm ready for the weekend and to go home and celebrate my mom's birthday! She's so wonderful, she deserves a great day! :)
I don't have a whole lot to say regarding life and everything else, it's kind of been the same old, same old lately, but it's also been a super crazy week! I had a blast skiing with the youth and praise the Lord, for the first time that I've been going(5 years), nobody was hurt! Wow! :)
I've been listening to this song by Michael W. Smith lately and Hillsong has a version of it, too...the chorus simply says this...
"I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all, I'll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrendered, all I am is Yours."
I want that to be my prayer this week....am I standing in awe of Him...the One who gave it all? Am I truly surrendering myself to Him? Am I allowing ALL I am to be His? I want to...that's what I want!
Keep that in mind this week, guys...
blessings.

It's Thursday! It's more than halfway through the week and I am ecstatic! I have made it through this far and now the rest should be much easier! :) The week slows down big time after Wednesday for me! Last night was amazing! :) I got to be with all kinds of people from home and reconnect...HERE instead of at home. I love when people get to see me thriving in this environment! I also got to spend time with Sandy and Rob before they leave for Kazakhstan, which was great :) Last night was such a huge blessing. It was also really encouraging to me to see how God is using the Beyond Idols Worship Tour. I've become fairly familiar with them because of their coming to my home church, but wow, their message was incredible and their passion for Jesus is so evident! It was encouraging to see that part!

So lately, the pressing issue on my heart has been Christian vs. Disciple. I realize now that there is no difference. I think that for so long, it's been so easy to justify the difference. Christians are those who have been saved, but aren't following the commands of Jesus...but then I stop and realize...how can that be? How can one truly be saved if they are not following the commands of Jesus? Did Jesus himself not say "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."? I think that's a pretty straight forward answer. If we want to be Christians...disciples, then we must follow Him, taking up our crosses and denying ourselves. DAILY. That means striving to live after him in every aspect of our lives. I realize that living a good moral life could appear to be living as a disciple, but that isn't how it works. Jesus gives some pretty huge commandments that we need to be following.

Anyways, that's what's on my heart this week. Consider this...are you living as a disciple? Or are you one that is simply the western standard of Christian? I know where I want to be. Keep this in mind as you go about your daily tasks...listen to what He might be telling you. It's so exciting!

Be blessed this week, guys...

Oh, the weekend! This one was a crazy one. I have got to learn how to be less stressed and give things to God! That's the moral of this weekend! I let the littlest things bother me and then I lost control and eeeek! God is soooo good, though, and I love how He knows exactly what is going on and sits there and smiles, knowing that I'm just crazy :) It's good to know He's in control of my life instead of me!

I'm really looking forward to this week! It should be a good one! I don't have the loads of tests that I had this past week. I just have one tomorrow in Discipling Ministries(one of my favorite classes!) BUT on Wednesday, my dear friend Sandy is coming here to see me. I'm so excited about that because soon she will be leaving to get her adopted baby across the world! I'm so happy for her! Her husband might be coming along, too...the more the merrier, I can't wait to see her/them! My friend Ashton from home may be coming to HU on Wednesday night, too, because Global Disciples, Beyond Idols tour is going to be here. They are going to be at FMC at home next week, but because I am skiing with the youth, I won't be in the service to see them. It sounds like they're going to be great and they have a great testimony, so I'm excited that they will be here at HU, too!

Pastor Jeff gave an amazing message this morning. He talked about Jesus being the bread of life. He mentioned during the service that Jesus really meant that...He wants to be the one we depend on, our everything. Sometimes I have to wonder and question if I am truly keeping my life in line with all of His plans and with His teachings, I know I try, but sometimes I find myself falling short and I want to climb higher and higher with Him. I love Him so much! Today's sermon was motivating and challenging and I'm excited to continue to apply it to my life!

Well, friends, I must go and ready for English some more and then I am going to bed...I can't wait to sleep tonight! I got hardly any last night and I didn't get my Sunday afternoon nap today! Let's hope that doesn't mess up my whole week! :)

I leave you all with this verse that has been on my heart today:
Psalm 104:1
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Friends, do that...Praise Him...He is so great and clothed in splendor and majesty...That king, He's my best friend!

I decided that I should make a blog so that everyone can keep up with what's really going on! That way anybody who wants to know what's happening with classes, my major, life at HU, friends, etc, can keep up with it!

This past week has been challenging, but incredible. I continue to see God in everything I do. I realize more than ever that He is the reason that I live, move, breathe, and do anything. He truly is incredible and I love Him for that. The week was challenging for several reasons. I got sick on Monday morning. I woke up feeling awful and laid in bed most of the morning, missing my first two classes. I also had several quizzes this week and a huge exam in my Psychology class. This all on top of the normal homework load and every day activities. I made it through and was even more thankful than normal when Friday at 2 arrived! (Which is crazy, because I'm usually pretty excited for the weekend!)

I got to go home on Wednesday to my dear church. I was able to help with the youth group...being there is such a blessing. I love that place and I care so much about the people and the ministries that are happening there. God is truly at work and I love watching and I can't wait to see how I am going to continue to be a part of it! I also got to stay and go to Nursery School Thursday morning! I was SO EXCITED! I love those kids! Being a part of Nursery School was one of the highlights of my J-Term internship. It was such a neat experience...definitely one I never thought I would enjoy! God taught me so much about myself through that experience! It was great to be able to be a part of those kids' lives, even for a few short weeks, and I pray that I can go back some more before this year is over.

I almost feel like my love for the kids at Nursery School is a sign that I should keep my Children's Ministry major. I've realized so much over time that I truly love going deep and helping to nurture other believers and get them to a higher level of discipleship with Jesus. I'm not sure I can do that with little children, but as Jesus said in Matthew 19:24, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." He cared about those children deeply and I care about these children deeply. Maybe it's something I should consider more. I am earnestly seeking God's will in this area.

This next weekend I am going as a leader on the ski trip with my youth group from back home. I'm super excited to do this because I love skiing and I'm very much looking forward to spending tie with these kids and hopefully engaging in some really good God conversation. I want to get to know these kids and find out where they are...there are far too many that hide stuff and I want to be a source of encouragement to them. I've been in places many of them have, but it's all about opening up and admitting that.

Well, here we go, this is a brief summary of my week. I'm going to try to update this regularly, but if I get behind in my days, don't judge me :) May God truly bless each and every one of you who comes across this and may His goodness and mercy be upon you!

I leave you with this verse to think about and reflect upon...it comes from Paul's letter to the Philippians...chapter 4, verse 8.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.