Psalm 25

My devotions today really touched me. Psalm 25....I had read this chapter before for a class but at the time it meant nothing to me. Looking back now, I don't see how it didn't. I didn't even plan to read this chapter. I just kind of opened my devotional book at a random spot and this is what it lead me to. Or I should say this is what God lead me to. He always knows exactly what I need to hear. 

I love the whole chapter....but verses 4 through 7 really stood out me.

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord." 

God is amazing! When I read these verses, it's almost like I could turn this into a prayer for myself. I need God to show me his ways and teach me his paths, to guide me in his truth. Verse 7 is the verse I probably love the most. "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways"....the Lord knows I did my share of sinning and rebelled against him. There was a time in my life that I claimed to know God so everyone would think I was a Christian, but I didn't want to have anything to do with him. My God is a forgiving God and I know he forgives me for what I've done in my past. I don't think some people realize that though. No matter what you've done, God will forgive you because he loves you and you are his child. When I turned my life completely over to God, I noticed a big difference....and I would never go back. 

Obsession

I think I just might be obsessed...with hats. Here I am, sitting at my computer and I just took probably twenty pictures of me in Kevin's hats. I need help.

Patience...

I really think God is trying to teach me a lesson. I've always had a problem with patience and I must say I don't like it at all. Things that you normally should be patient about, is hard for me at times. I've decided to try this new thing though. Every time I become impatient, Im just going to go straight into prayer with the Lord. I know that He is my strength and is the only one that can help me conquer this. Im so used to just jumping into everything....and I can hear God telling me to stop and just trust Him.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength....

Great weekend!

I had a pretty good weekend I must say. A few things went wrong, but I don't feel the need to say what those things were. But Friday night I went and saw Kung Fu Panda 2 with Ivette, Melissa, and Kevin. The movie was pretty good I might add. Then Kevin and I went back to his toho and watched Step Up. Man has it been awhile since I've seen that movie. We had some pretty good conversations after the movie. I enjoy the convos I have with him. He is a good listener and I feel comfortable talking to him.

Saturday was absolutely...AMAZING! Chelsea, Mary Beth, Trisha, and I went to Purdue to go see Tenth Avenue North in concert. Ruben and I hadn't seen each other since the first time we met back in March so I was really excited to see him! He was nice enough to find me out in the crowd before he even went on stage! I must say they put on a good show! Their songs mean a lot to me. When I was going through troubles last semester, one song in particular really helped me.....You Are More. When they played that song, I about cried. It's still one of my favorite songs to this day. But after the show, Ruben texted me and wanted us to meet him. He took us on their tour bus and we hung out with all the guys for almost 2 hours. It was pretty interesting I must say. We had some very....awkward conversations that you just don't have on a regular basis. The lead singer Mike made me thing about a lot  of things I never thought of before. I really enjoyed my time with them and I really can't wait to see them all next month when they play in Fort Wayne.

Bethany and Anne had an ex-unit dinner tonight in their lodge. I loved seeing some of the girls from my old unit and catching up with them! I miss freshman year so much to a certain extent. I feel closer to Anne and Bethany now though then I ever did last year. I think it's because I've grown so much in my faith and I actually understand what they meant all this time when I talked to them. We share a spiritual bond now and I feel like I can go talk to them about anything and everything. I didn't feel like that last year....and now I wish I had. 

I think it's a sign

My entry last night was essentially about the plan God has for me. With that, I included Jeremiah 29:11...well I walked into my comp class today and we had a guest speaker that wanted to do a devotion with us all. And you will never guess what she read from and talked about? JEREMIAH 29:11!!! I don't think this was just a coincidence, I think it came from God. He knows I struggle with what He wants me to do and this was just Him reassuring me that He is there for me and does have a plan for me. I love how God works. After the class, I went up and talk to our guest speaker, Toni Vallrie, and told her about my blog and I thought it was a sign from God and she gave me a huge hug and said "Praise God!" She told me she would be praying for me and hearing those words filled my heart. I love it when christians you don't even know, are so happy to pray for you. That is the love of God. <3

Jeremiah 29:11

So here I am starting off my sophomore year at IWU. I don't feel like I was a freshman this time last year. A lot has happened in my life since then. Im not the same person I was...in a good way though. I've been through a lot of difficulties and trials. God has really tested me and I must say I have failed many times. But  He never gave up on me. No one gave up on me. My friends believed in me and knew that I could get out of the rut I was in once. At the end of may term, I was feeling pretty good about my faith. Well then summer came around and I was at home with no one there to support me. It was a very hard summer at times. And I will admit, I messed up and I wish I could change some things about it. Luckily my God is a forgiving God. I couldn't wait to come back to school though. I was an NSO leader this year and I loved every minute of it. I got really close to some of my freshman and I can tell we will be good friends. I had some deep conversations and prayer with them. I can't wait to see them grow while they are here at IWU. I also made a lot of new friends that were NSO leaders as well. Some of them have already really helped me with my faith already and they don't even know it.
I also went to summit this year. Last year I was so stubborn about Summit and I refused to go. Im still mad at myself for that because I can see how much it helped me this year. God is amazing and I don't know what I would do without Him. I know that God has a plan for me. Even though I don't know what it is, I know it's all in his hands and I trust Him completely.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11