The journey has already begun.

I am thrilled to share with you a journey I have already begun! I will be spending the summer sharing the Gospel, loving on the community, and learning how to serve Christ more closely and whole heartedly with a community of 50 other college students in Jersey Shore. Everything is starting to to fall in place, and now I will sit back and let God continue to prepare my heart and resources for this summer.

Choosing to go on Summer Project was not an easy decision. It has been on my heart and mind since freshmen year, but I never felt like it was the right time. This summer is my last official summer as a college student, so what better time to give my summer to God? Originally, the thought of having to raise support was really scary. Yes, I knew that God provides, but I had my doubts. Somedays I still do. I am a sinful person, and I doubt and worry. Even though project doesn’t officially start until May, I already feel the Lord working in my heart. It’s good to remind yourself that God is the ultimately provider despite our unbelief at times. 

Jersey Shore is going to challenge me. I love the Midwest-it is my comfort zone. Jersey Shore...ehhh...not so much. I remember first hearing about a new project in Jersey Shore and I thought to myself ‘I would not want to go there’. Well, here I am, following where God is leading...and He is leading me to Jersey Shore. The culture and people are going to be different. It is going to be eye opening. But most importantly, God is going to work in this city! Please pray for the people of Seaside Heights and that the Lord would prepare their hearts to hearing the truth of the Gospel.

Support raising is a concept new to me-I have personally never had to raise support for a missions trip. Yes, it is scary. Very scary. But I am learning to trust God through this process. It is also weird having to ask people for money-it’s something our Midwest values do not agree with. Although this process is scary, I am really excited. I think the Lord is going to teach me a lot through this process, and ultimately strengthen my trust in Him. 

To say I am excited for this summer is an understatement-I am so pumped. I am going to be pushed out my comfort zone beyond belief. People are going to be impacted eternally. And God is going to be glorified about all. 

The journey has already begun.

With Blessings,

Heather 

Time in Prayer

This week I am doing something a little different-I will be taking the week to specifically pray for my future husband. I have been praying/writing to him since I was 16, but God has really put it on my heart to pray for him more intensely and specifically. So this week, I am fasting from Facebook and instead using that time to pray for my future husband and spend time writing to him. I will also be praying for the Lord to equip me and mold me into a Godly wife to love, serve, and honor my future husband and our children. I am excited for this week to see how the Lord will continue to grow in my heart and give me words to specifically pray for my future husband. I challenge you, if you have not prayed for your future spouse, let this week be the start. It is a beautiful thing to do.

With Blessings,

Heather 

I Choose JOY.

To say that my life has been crazy is an understatement. My last post was on September 2^nd-the last time I probably actually did not have homework. A lot has happened over the semester, and it continues to challenge me in many ways. Although I am now considered an “upperclassman”, I still feel like that freshmen trying to get a hold of this whole college thing. I thought it would get easier, but in reality, it became more challenging.

Looking back at high school, if I could single out one year of my high school career it would be junior year. Why? Because it was horrible. Worst year ever. I was so glad when summer hit. The year was exhausting mentally, emotionally, and academically. But I don’t want to focus on that. Rather, I want to focus on how my college junior year is going. When beginning the school year, I cringed at hearing the word “junior”. All I could think about was my junior year in high school and how that turned out. But I wanted to be optimistic. I determined that this junior year was going to be great. I was not going to let anything ruin it. Well, here I am, and I can personally say, it has been a lot more challenging than I thought. To simply say, I am finding joy in the midst of the chaos.

School. Where do I even begin? Let’s start with the word crazy. That has been my semester. I have had so much homework-an average of 8 hours a night. I have lesson plans and standards coming out of my ears, and not to mention an insane load of chocolate to help J My classes have been demanding not only mentally, but also emotionally. Being an education major may seem like it is easy, but it is actually hard. I’m interacting with kids who have poor home lives, family issues, and not enough money. I’m learning to love each kid for whom they are, not what they can do academically. Most importantly, I’m learning that teaching is always going to be challenging. Some days my heart is full, other days my heart is hurting. I’m in a kindergarten classroom right now and experience some of the most real things in that classroom. I’m overwhelmed and grateful how much my professors care for me and my future career. They want me to succeed-not for myself, but for the children. Maybe that’s why they push us so hard. I am so blessed to be in this mission field. The next 3 semesters are going to be even more challenging, but the Lord has His hand in this-along with everything else in my life!

With the demands of schooling, it has not been easy for any other part of my life. I have been at my job at the Y for two years now, and I continue to love what I do. Some days are easier than others, but when you have those great days, you know why you do it. I have fallen in love with the first grade age and would love to be a 1^st grade teacher. They are awesome! But with my class schedule, I was not receiving enough hours to support myself financially so I had to find a second job. I was offered a job at Family Wellness in the childcare center. I started orientation and am excited for this new job. It will be challenging holding down two jobs on top of school but it’s what I have to do.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-James 1:2-4

School and work is only the beginning of this crazy semester but I am thankful for this season of my life. It has been more difficult meeting with God on a daily basis, but I am learning how to incorporate it into my schedule. Spending time with Him is so necessary. I need it. More than anything else. Those times at 6 am where I spend time with the Lord is the most peaceful time of the day. When I forget to spend time with God or simply push it til later, my day is off.

But through all of the busyness, stress, and craziness, I choose joy. I don’t always have a joyful attitude, but it is something I am working on. Even on those bad days, I choose joy. The only reason I have joy is because of Him. I am seeing more fruits develop in my life, but it is only because of the challenges I am facing. God is changing and stretching me. It is a process.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

-Galatians 5:22-23

You may be having the best year of your life or you may be in the same boat as me, but if there is one thing you can do it is this: choose joy. We have joy in Christ and it should shine!

With Blessings,

Heather 

New Beginnings

One week of school completed. How many to go? Actually, let’s not count that number. The first week of school is always the beginning. The beginning of what you ask? Well, that’s up to you to decide. Is it the beginning of another dreadful year or the beginning of a year of growth? Is this the year you are going to surrender those areas of your life that you tend to hold on to and give them to the Lord? Is this the year to break out of your comfort zone and reach out to others?

To be completely honest, I was very ready for the school year. I like schedules, routines, and school. Yes, you read that right, I like school. Must be the teacher in me coming out. But seriously, I was more ready than I had ever felt. But I wasn’t just looking forward to school, I was most importantly looking forward to what God was going to do through me and how He was going to change me.

Before this school year even started, God started working in my heart in a way I had never experienced before. He was challenging me to reach out to others. Personally, I am not a super outgoing person-I am a simple introvert. Going out of my comfort zone is really scary for me at times, but I knew if this was something God wanted me to do, I was going to do it-but only through His strength. I felt Him preparing my heart for this opportunity and I started to really pray about it.

At the end of last year, I was given the opportunity to become a CRU leader. Something that really blew my mind was that I had been praying about it and then one day I was asked. I have already felt the Lord stretch me in so many ways! It’s only been a week, but I can only imagine how different of a person I will be at the end of the year! I’ve never felt the need to reach out to other people-I always let my own selfishness take over that part of me-but God has been teaching me the importance of that. As I’ve experienced those times this week I have felt uncomfortable, excited, and amazed at the boldness that the Lord has given me. As I continue this journey, I know it will only get better.

The first week of classes has been overwhelming but exciting. My professors have been so inspiring and passionate about the field of education-it only makes me that much more excited. I’m realizing the responsibility and influence I will have as a teacher-I definitely feel intimidated but I know this is what the Lord has called me to do in this season of my life. I am so thankful that He has called me into the mission field of education. I am thankful that He has ignited this passion in my heart to love on children, teach them, and continue to be changed personally. I am very excited to become a teacher, but in the meantime, I have SO much to learn.

I feel like my life is chaotic to say the least. College tends to do that to my life. The homework, clubs, work, classes, etc, life never stops moving. It can be challenging to know if and when to add another commitment. I am excited to get involved with my church’s children’s ministry called River City Kids. At first I was hesitant with everything I had going on, but I want to serve God with the gifts and passions that He has given me. If I’m not serving Him, I am wasting what He has given me. 

As for work, I have a new group of 28 first graders. What an exciting week it was. I know this year is going to be a challenge, but I have seen myself grow so much through this job. I can’t believe I have been working at the Y for almost two years. This job has been a handful, but it is only going to prepare me more to be a teacher, and I get to hang out with 28 wonderful first graders every day. That is a blessing within itself.

This week was full of new beginnings and opportunities. It was crazy. It was exciting. It was overwhelming. But it is my new beginning. A year to grow closer to my Heavenly Father. A year to create new friendships with my brothers and sisters in Christ. A year to step out of my comfort zone and to see Him stretch me. A year to see in what areas I sin and how I need Christ even more. A year to experience Christ in a deeper passion. This is a year that God is going to blow away my expectations.

This is my new beginning. What’s yours?

With Blessings,

Heather

Keeping Score

It is 1 am and I cannot sleep. I know there is a reason for this. I believe this is a time that the Lord wants me to share what He’s been doing in my life, so here I am writing this blog when I should probably be sleeping. I pray that the Lord can use this post to encourage you, strengthen you, and reveal Himself to you. I pray that the Lord can use me, give me the words to say, and that He can receive ALL the glory.

I used to think I was a good person. I volunteered, went to church, didn’t party, drink, or do any “bad” things. I did well in school, had good friends, and tried to have it all together. God has changed my view of myself.

I am not a good person. So who am I?

By myself I am selfish. I am prideful. I am sinful. I am hopeless. I am jealous. I am self serving. I am bitter. I am lost. And I am doomed.

In Christ I am a child of the King. I am saved. I am redeemed. I am spotless. I am forgiven. I am hopeful. I am joyful. I am serving Christ. I am humble. I have found the way. And I have received the greatest gift of all.

For the longest time, I believed I was this “good person”. The Lord has been teaching me that all these “good” things do not add up to anything. Yes, it is important to spend time serving other people and His kingdom, participate in healthy activities, and to be responsible with school, but those are the little things. I realized what I was doing-keeping score.

Every time I did something “good” I would put a check on my “scoreboard”. I kept track of all the good things I did. I let them define me and I was happy to. But then God showed me all the selfishness I was storing up.

I have been experiencing a lot of growth this summer. It has been hard at times, but the Lord is surely changing me. I have realized that in Christ I have far more valuable and important qualities than by myself. It’s hard to take in at times but our God is a patient God. 

Take time today to ask the Lord to reveal these ugly qualities that often disguise themselves in our hearts. Ask Him to forgive you, remove them, and to replace them with Him. Then you will be whole.

Happy Sunday-Have a wonderful day worshiping the Lord and lifting His name on high.

With Blessings,

Heather

Don't Stop the Madness

If I could use one work to describe my week it would be madness.

Between packing, moving out, cleaning, starting summer classes, moving back into my parents place, and work, I have had no time to even sit down. I quickly found myself overwhelmed at the beginning of the week-a sure sign that it was going to be a hard week. I felt the stress of deadlines-packing, moving boxes, cleaning, etc. and the pressure of starting a three week summer biology class (Science is not my strongest subject).

By Tuesday morning, I was overwhelmed and felt tears whelming up in my eyes. I realized the security in my plans for moving did not go as planned. Since moving got delayed, we ended up changing everything. For a planner like me, a complete change in schedule freaks me out. I do not like sudden changes. It’s how I am. Do I like it? Not at all.

Then Wednesday hit. Feeling tired, worn, and not ready for what the day demanded, I hit the road at 7 am to go to a three hour biology class. Not to mention that my class ended up being on the 4th floor-that’s 70 stairs if you’re wondering. The only goal of my day was simple-to survive and not have a breakdown.

But then a song came on the radio.

The song is called “Don’t Stop the Madness” by Tenth Avenue North. This song talks about how the madness, chaos, and pain in our lives is used in order for the Lord to break our hearts and make us more like Him. It’s a desperate cry to the Lord to break our deceitful, foolish, and idolized hearts. And it’s not fun.

Here are the lyrics:

There's a beggar down inside of me

Standing on the corner of the street

And my shame is my only company

Can use some cash, but can't admit my need

For what you've got and what I could receive

I need you love to come and break the silence

Don't stop the madness

Don't stop the chaos

Don't stop the pain surrounding me

Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart

Just bring me down to my knees, yeah

All I hear is what they're selling me

That God is love, he isn't suffering

And what you need's a little faith and prosperity

But, oh my God, I know there's more than this

If you promise pain it can't be meaningless

So make me poor if that's the price for freedom

Don't stop the madness

Don't stop the chaos

Don't stop the pain surrounding me

Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart

If it brings me down to my knees, yeah

In a marriage lost

And the cry in the dark

Don't stop with your love

And the mother's tear

For the child that starves

Don't stop with your love

When we're breaking down

We're falling apart

Don't stop with your love

And with new eyes to see

This is your mercy

Don't stop with your love

Don't stop the madness

Don't stop the chaos

Don't stop the pain inside of me

Do whatever it takes to give me your heart

And bring me down to my knees, Lord

I was so grateful the Lord orchestrated this moment in order to remind me of the blessing “chaos” can be in my life. I realized how much I relied on my plans to follow through, and when they didn’t, I was upset. But I need to rely on the Lord. His plans NEVER fail.

The madness that fills our lives is never going to stop. It is a constant struggle, and although it may seem never ending, there is rest in the arms of our Savior. I can’t help but look back at my week and be amazed of how I made it through. How the Lord taught me so much, and how I neglected to spend time with Him when I obviously needed it the most. If life was easy, we would not need the Lord. But through the madness, we find the peace, comfort, and strength we need-which is worth every single second of chaos.

With Blessings,

Heather 

Struggles (In Singleness)

We all have our struggles. Struggles for joy, contentment, or peace. Lately, I have been faced with a new struggle. I have been content about this situation, but now I am feeling the pains of this struggle. So what is my struggle?

Contentment in my singleness.

I have enjoyed be single for many reasons and have always felt like it was the right stage for me during different seasons of my life. I have felt contentment and joy, knowing I was waiting for the Lord to orchestrate the relationship of my future husband and I. A couple years ago, I read a book called “Sacred Singleness” by Leslie Ludy. This book spoke to me in so many ways and helped me to see my singleness as a blessing and not a burden. I encourage all my friends to read this book because it has been such an encouragement to me.

Every night, I pray for my future husband. I also enjoy writing to him. It may seem like a weird concept, but through all the prayers and letters, I have felt this connection to him. But I don’t know who he is. It’s hard to understand but I feel it. Praying for him has become something very important to me because I know every single person needs prayers. I pray for strength in hard times, purity, growth in the Lord, and that his friendships and relationships would be glorifying to the Lord. I also pray that if he does not know the Lord yet, that he would be convicted and know this never-ending love. I want a Christ centered relationship and what better way than to start it out with prayer years before our relationship even begins.

Although this has been a struggle for me, I cling to the promise of Romans 8:28. This verse has been such a rock for me through everything in life I’ve experienced. So I rest in the comfort of knowing that God has provided this struggle and this season of my life for MY good. Through my singleness, I have been able to develop a relationship with the Lord and focus on Him. I know the Lord is preparing me for my future husband and is also preparing my future husband for me. It is encouraging to know that this is a time of growth that will impact any future relationships I may have.

The Lord knows the inward desires of our hearts. I trust in His faithfulness and timing, knowing He has it all under control. This season of my life has a purpose. A purpose of growth-spiritually and personally. I know someday it is going to be so worth the waiting and getting to walk down the aisle to my future husband. To go before God and our friends and family to vow our faithfulness to each other and the Lord. What a beautiful picture of the love of Christ and His church it will be!

With Blessings,

Heather