SEMO week 1

Hey guys! Its been awhile since my last post, I didn't want to bore you with the stories of packing and moving. PLUS! I had a very busy couple weeks, filled with some sadness and also some great times!

The week before my move a very special man in my life passed away. He was like a Grandpa to me the only grandpa I ever knew since both of mine were gone before I came along. I will miss him very much. But I know he is up in Heaven singin all over the place!

The weekend before my move I had the opportunity to visit some family up North and go into Chicago for a day with them. We had a great time and, the highlight of my trip... I got to go to TIFFANY & CO!!!!! Loved every second of it! I included a picture of my and my Maja up in the Sears Tower!

Thursday was my big move, it was a busy and very hot day. But we got all of my things up 2 flights of stairs and all put together! Good news... my room is HUGE! I'm very blessed to have this room and can't wait to share some really good times with the people on my floor! But Thursday was a very difficult night. This being my first time away from home the homesickness settled in right as I was going to bed. I prayed a lot that night and depended on God to give me comfort. I didn't get a lot of sleep but thankfully woke up rested, Thank you God! I have been doing a lot of praying and God has answered my prayers taking away my homesickness and bringing my lots of new friends to hang out with! He is so good!!! I was reading and looking for verses of comfort and I ran across this:

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 199:50

I wrote this on my arm and look at it often when I feel sad.

Classes start tomorrow and I'm a little nervous but I know that the Big Man is taking care of me on this journey called life!

Love and Blessings!

School preparation is drawing to a close while Camp begins!

I just arrived home from the first night of Church Camp and I so wish I could spend the night but I must go to work tomorrow, but hopefully 1 o'clock will come fast tomorrow so I can scoot right back to camp!

School preparations have been very frustrating with loan applications and MPN's and what not... to me its been quite a struggle, but God has brought me through it! I only have a few minor things now and I am SO RELIEVED!!! Praise God!!! Getting ready for SEMO might be worse than actually going there... I'll let you know later after I've started classes! But boy am I glad that I can talk to God about my frustrations and I love how His word gives comfort, He says that He has "plans to give me a future and a hope"! WOW WEE! Not only has God brought me through SEMO preparation but this is also my last week of my online class!

So with the end of all the school stuff comes my favorite part of summer.... Church Camp!! There are a TON of kids this year and we have already felt the spiritual warfare going on, Satan is not happy. So I'm thinking something really great is gonna happen this week or he wouldn't be trying to get us down!

So as I said there are a ton of kids and most of them are girls! The younger girls cabin actually overflowed into our older girls cabin. We feel that its a pretty good problem to have! I can't wait to see what God has in store for this week and I pray that we would learn more about what it is to live like Jesus. I came across this verse and this is my prayer for the campers as well as faculty this week:

"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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8 & 9

Love!

Resting in the Lord

WOW! What a busy few weeks I have had! Bible school ended with a bang and my Teenagers even participated in the closing ceremony! They are such good sports! We ended Bible School Thursday and then after a few hours of sleep most of the kids in my class plus a few more got up @ 4am to serve breakfast at a homeless shelter. I love to see their dedication and willing sprits! They were definitely taking to heart all of our discussions about serving the Lord by serving others! I'm so proud and thankful for a great week with a great group of kids!

Now did I mention that after the 4am wake up call and cooking and serving breakfast we went to Holiday World after that??? For those of you who may not have heard of Holiday World, its a theme park! It was a long and tiring day but we had a really great time!

I don't know about the kids but the rest of my weekend was super full and now I am trying to take advantage of every free moment to rest up. A verse that I found that gives me hope and rest is in Psalm:

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1 & 2

Isn't it amazing to know that he is a fortress for us that we, even on our weariest of days, are protected by a God who loves us unconditionally. This verse is so empowering, he is our salvation!!! "I will NEVER be shaken" This is something that I need to remind myself of everyday. It is so easy in our lives to be swayed one way or another especially if we are going on 2 hrs of sleep or in a cranky sleepy mood. At these times in our lives we need to dig into the word to find strength and encouragement and rest!

Well gearing up for another full week next week, its Church Camp Time!!!!! Please pray most importantly that we see campers develop and grow their relationships with God and also for a safe and fun week!

YEE HAW! Days 2 and 3 of VBS were awesome! I have some of the greatest kids in my 7up class! Each day I have seen God stirring in their hearts and I have had the chance to hear their ideas. Let me just tell you, I have been blessed by these kids!

Does it not just blow your mind when God puts you in a situation you never thought you be in and even though you are scared out of your mind, He gives you the strength and courage to do it! That's definitely what's been going on in my life this week! God never ceases to amaze me. This week has reinstated in my mind that Jesus has always got my back!

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

Tonight we talked about trusting where God is leading us. College was one of those decisions that I thought I had to make on my own. But that proved to go no where. When I let Jesus take the reigns, He led me right where I needed to be and in just a few short weeks I'll be there and the best part is Jesus has gone before me to prepare the way!! WOW! What a relieving thought!

" 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

Trust in God's map. Trust that He will lead you where you need to be, even when the road seems rough or scary. He still loves you and He tells us in His word that he will never leave us!

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." 1 John 5:15

Stepping Out

This blogging thing is new for me so bear with me through this first one, I'm sure I will get the hang of it soon!

First of all my name is Lindsay. I have been living a happy life in a small town for 20 years of this short life and now my biggest change is about to take place in just a few months. Thats right, this small-town girl is movin to the city! Granted the only reason is for the purpose of attending a University, it's waay out of my comfort zone. There comes a time that we must grow up and thats what I intend to do.. no matter how impossible it may seem!

In these months before my move I have had so many prayers answered and so many new things coming my way. God is showing me what it is to come out of my shell and how to stand firm and be bold! This week He has led me to teaching a VBS youth class... it started tonight and it's already been a trip! Teaching is the last thing on the list of things I never thought I'd do. But here I am! I was so blessed by the students in my class tonight, and I definitely can't wait to see what else is in store for us this week!

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19: