Just Do Something

There have probably been many days that have been blog worthy between yesterday and the last time I blogged.    I can't believe the school year ended and the summer has begun.  I'm still in the I miss Butler phase, but loving home just as much.  Yesterday, was just such a good reminder of how God is working.

Well first, Amanda came home. She is biking across the country this summer for AIDS.  How cool is that? SO COOL.  I'm so thankful that I am able to spend a couple weeks with her before she leaves.  It's crazy that we have been friends since we were four. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am to have friends that live so close to home. 

With Amanda being home, it seemed only fitting that we went to Fairmont's Senior Young Life Club.  I am going to be sad the day that Fairmont Young Life doesn't feel like home anymore.  The hugs, and the joy stemming from that place is indescribable.  I love seeing old friends come back, as well as catching up with brand new friends.  Evan, one of my brand new friends, is a sophomore and it is just crazy how God is using her at Fairmont.  I love it.

Club was crazy as usual, and so fun.  My favorite part by far is when one of my best friends, Caitlin stood up and gave her testimony.  She is a beautiful woman of God and it incredible to think back to how much she has grown the past four years.  As she spoke, I knew she was nervous, but she didn't even stutter a word.  She was proud to share how God has changed her life, and how she wants that for her friends.  She is such a blessing and I can't wait to see how God uses her in college.

Yesterday I started a book called "Just Do Something".  It's a call to those trying to figure out God's will (so... all of us).  And it invites us to not twittle around but instead do something!  In case you couldn't tell from this blog I have really cool friends.  Eshan is in China, Laura is in South Africa, Ryan is in Liberia, Erika and Kit are in Berlin.  And that is just the start. So many friends are getting ready to be missionaries at Young Life Camp and in Indianapolis and right here in Kettering.  I love that we can encourage each other to do something whether big or small.  This morning one of my best friends, Candace is getting ready to head to Thailand.  We said farewell with some Settlers of Catan.  She is such a beautiful image of Christ and I am really happy that we are on the same team.

How can we fully live while doing nothing?  

I don't think we can, I think Christ calls us to just do something.

Euchristeo

Winter break was so great. It was just a perfect escape from the stress of school.  I loved being with my friends from home and making new friends in Atlanta praising God at Passion.

I loved seeing how God has been working in my friends lives at home. How God's working around the world at Passion. And how his beautiful always works for the good of those who love Him and work according to His purpose.


Over break I FINALLY finished Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts. A bit dramatic, but I learned a lot.  Ann really challenged me to be thankful. Not just be thankful, but to be the kind of thankful that produces joy, faith, trust, and perseverance. Full life is hard to be found with out this euchristeo, this complete thankfulness.

Through trials, stress, feelings of unworthiness, mourning from losses, and unwanted change it is hard to see all there is to be truly and utterly thankful for in our lives. So just like Ann, I'm making a list, a list of ways I have seen God work and be faithful this weekend.

1. Playing harmonica's with the kids at Kaleidoscope. (50 kids with no idea how to play a harmonica, never sounded so beautiful)
2. Carmel Basketball games
3. Watching a little brother take care of his sister
4. Meeting Jamie, a foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan
5. Getting to see my young life leader Collette, IN INDY!
6. Eshan forcing me to stop at McDonald's and being so impatient
7. Not getting into the multiple almost accidents on the way home
8. Tears for loved ones who have passed
9. Adventures with the suitemates
10. playing peek-a-boo with cute little kids
11. Visits with smelly
12. AN AMAZING BULLDOG VICTORY
13. Getting to be with Libby and Kelsey

  Well.. you get the picture. The list could go on for years.  It's incredible the joy that comes from recognizing the gifts that God gives us every hour, every minute. I have to say I'm most thankful for Romans 8..

 'No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future,nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'  That NOTHING can separate us from the unfailing love of Christ.