titles are so unnecessary

So recently I've been reading Paul's various letters in the new testament. I've noticed a pattern that I'd like to share briefly. Paul starts out his letters thanking God for that church and telling them they need to continue to stand firm and keep their minds pure and focus on loving people. Something interesting and completely applicable to my life right now is when Paul talks about how much he loves and misses those churches. He writes on multiple occasions how much he wishes he could be with them at that exact moment and is reminded of how much love he received when he was there. I've been feeling this same feeling ever since I got home. I miss all of my BCM friends who are spread across the US. I think about how much fun this year was and how much I loved it and how they loved me, too, and how we grew in Christ together. Just like Paul, I'm so encouraged when I hear about how God used them in Ohio and what they're about to embark on this summer. I know that when I go to Chicago it'll be that way as well, but this time it'll include my family. I know that I'll miss them. Through all of this, though, I know that I'll see all of them again. Whether I see them when I get back, or if I don't see them again until I'm in Heaven, I know I'll see them again. I am so encouraged by that, and it helps me, not necessarily miss them any less, but it helps me focus on what God wants me to do NOW. I can't focus on God's will if all of my attention is on the people I love and miss.

Don't get me wrong, I still miss everyone a ridiculous amount, I just know that I'll see you again, and that helps me a lot :) 

Just another blog post

Something I've loved doing lately is looking back and thinking about what's happened in order for me to be where I am. It's kind of amazing, really. I know it's one of those cliche things to say how "God has a reason for everything", but I've honestly found that to be true.

Here's one example of how crazy legit God is: I decided that my senior year of high school I was going to apply to be a Teaching Fellow which is a scholarship program that gives you a bunch of money, but also tells you where to go to school. So I went through the interview process and was crazy excited, but they kept putting off sending the acceptance letters. Since it decides what school you go to I was depending on that to tell me whether I should go to Winthrop or USC, since I got into both schools. Unfortunately, since the letters came out so late, I had to go ahead and send in the deposits to both schools, but doing all of the logistics for USC since that's where I really wanted to end up. However, I finally received the letter telling me that I did not receive the scholarship and that I would be put on a waiting list. Knowing this, I decided on USC which was one of the best decisions I ever made. About a month into fall semester I got a letter telling me that I could apply and transfer to College of Charleston if I wanted to be in the Teaching Fellows Program there, but I decided to stay on the waiting list for USC. I still haven't heard from them, but I consider it a blessing. If you receive the scholarship, you have to teach in South Carolina for the same number of years you are in the program. This would mean that instead of teaching as a ministry tool, like God's calling me to do wherever that may be, I would be stuck in South Carolina with no guarantee of a job for 3+ years. God used what I considered a miserable experience to lead me and open the door for His ministry! Crazy, eh?

I know that was really long, but I have another example of how crazy God works, and you don't have to read it if you don't want to. So here we go. I briefly mentioned in another blog post about how God led me to Chicago this summer. There's actually a little more to it. Way earlier in the year I thought about applying for a position for the Orientation Staff, mainly because they made my orientation experience amazing. So I looked at the application and realized that they required my SAT/ACT score for acceptance since I didn't have a college GPA yet. Unfortunately for me, both of my scores were not high enough, so I didn't even turn in the application. To be honest, this was a huge letdown for me. So I forgot about summer plans for awhile until I went to Converge in February. That's when I found out about Myrtle Beach and decided to pursue it. I went after it with all I had and really thought that's what God had in store for me this summer. Everything went well until I got an email telling me that, although I was super qualified, God was leading them in a different direction this summer and I wasn't going to be on staff with them. It may sound stupid, but I cried for hours about this. I had plans of my own that included a summer at the beach, but God had totally different plans for me. I thought it was the weirdest thing that I didn't get the job even though he said I was super qualified, but he sent all of my stuff to NAMB and well, the rest is history. God stepped in and said, "Caroline, I know your intentions are good. You want to serve me and that's great. However, this summer I'm going to change up your plans and take you somewhere way out of your comfort zone. Don't worry though. I've prepared you for this summer for a long time. I've given you all you need. All you have to do is use it."

Have I mentioned how excited I am for this summer? I AM SO EXCITED!!

So while I'm sitting here eating my Fritos I remembered that I made a resolution to blog at least once a week. ha. haha. yeah I failed that one just a little bit. But honestly, I should write a blog just to write one, because then the quality goes wayyyyyy down.

Well to update I still haven't started packing for Chicago or school. I keep finding things that are more important. These things include watching Youtube, watching The Office, hanging out with friends, watching Psych, reading Pride and Prejudice, and talking to friends. I haven't had the most productive month so far.

My to-do list is suuuuuper long, mainly because things get added, but never done. I still need to fill out my forms for NAMB before I go on the trip. I also need to pack, obviously. I need to start on the door decs and bulletin boards and stuffs. I also need to work a little more on the freshman Bible study book for next semester (btw it's going to be amazing).

so that'll all get done eventually I guess.  

reflections

Recently God's been convicting me about possessions. Everyone is concerned over what's new and what will make them fit in. I'm definitely included in this, and I've noticed it a lot lately. Every commercial is trying to get us to be dissatisfied with what we have and want what they're trying to sell. The person without their product is usually shown as "not cool" or someone who doesn't like to have fun. These things become something we think we need in order to move on with our lives. Then I go to downtown and see a man literally eating something from the trashcan. It broke my heart to see the reality of the world we live in. While I'm worried about whether or not I should get braces or what new clothes I want, people are struggling to find something to eat and a place to live. Recently I think about things before I saw "I need this", because most of the time I don't. As Christians we are called to live in the world, but not of the world, and have definitely been living of the world. Matthew 6:19-20 tells us "do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves in heaven..." Honestly, I forget this too much and I build up my treasures here on earth. I forget that everything here is temporary and that none of it will last. My wants should not come before someone else's needs. It's ridiculous that I can think I deserve $10 for myself rather than buying some dinner for a man who would otherwise be getting his dinner from a trashcan.

I like to Spam

Here the story: My senior year of high school, my lovely friend and I were in a really intense poke war on facebook. She decided to "win" and get ALL of her friends to write on my wall "Worthy wins. You lose", and if those friends were not friends with me, they sent me messages. This got ridiculous so I decided to "give up". I then told her that one day I'd get her back. She would not know when and she would not know how, but I'd get her back. Well last night I was awake much later than I should have been and decided to like all of her mobile photos on facebook. I also posted random videos on her wall. This really just started out as me loving her and being crazy like bffls are. THEN I remembered what I promised back in senior year, and decided that I was going to take it to a new level. So I wrote her a note one letter at a time on her wall. Then I rick-rolled her profile pictures which is always fun. Disclaimer: This was not to be mean. I love her oh so dearly. Also, this is the greatest pay back of all time.

God's Got This

So I've been freaking out lately over things that don't need me freaking out over them. Honestly it's just causing me more stress than necessary. But luckily I've decided to turn things over to God and opened up my Bible. John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." <--- WOW Also I've decided that this is my new life verse(s). Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" So basically... God's got this. I don't need to worry about any of it.