there is oh so much....

to be thankful and excited for!!

what an absolute blessing to witness our friends' growth and desire to learn more about God! so many questions being asked, so many conversations being made, so many opportunities to proclaim Christ! i am overwhelmed, my heart's been jumping with joy and overflowing with seeing God's grace in so many lives.

while there is much to be thankful and excited for, there is also much to pray for. bros and sistas, join us in prayer for these hearts that are seeking to know who Christ is and where he fits in their lives.

dear Lord, you are doing some great things all over the place. we commit this ministry to Your hands, knowing that you are so faithful and loving. thank you for letting us be a part of your amazing work!

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
[Hebrews 11:6]



this campus is too beautiful to overlook.
your Creation never ceases to amaze me!

hey soul sista

meet my beautiful cousin, jenevieve. we would see each other at random family parties as we were growing up, the usual friendly hello's and small talk. but it wasn't until she joined mcia delta year where we actually started getting to know each other. since then, she's matured so much! from awkward freshmen newbie to captain to coord (for two years!) she's also been involved in various on-campus organizations where her passion and dedication continue to shine. above all this, her heart's been moved and transformed by the Holy Spirit as she was saved by grace earlier this year when she decided to dedicate her life to follow Christ. i'm super encouraged by her rapid growth in boldness and knowledge so early in her walk. her resilience, understanding and excitement to learn more and more about Jesus is such a blessing!

jenhabib, im really proud of you and i'm really glad i can share this experience with you. today, during our weekly hangout, you told me that when you move back home, you're scared that you'll be alone in your faith... rest assured i am but a phone call away, cousin. im here for ya now and later and know that im always praying for you, my little sister-in-Christ. beyond that, don't ever forget that God will always be with you. now that's unconditional love. what an absolutely wonderful promise! PTL! love you!

be constant in prayer.

"...anything great starts with prayer. not telling him what to do, not saying God here's my plan, I want you to do this, but really just come before God and saying, I don't know what your plan is, I just want you, whatever will bring you most glory, I'm asking you to do that, I'm begging you to do that... are you completely surrendered where you say, okay God, whatever that is then, I just want it to be of you because I'm tired of me. I'm tired of what I can produce, I'm tired of what people can produce, I gotta have something supernatural in my life. It starts with prayer." - "I'm in Love" sermon by Francis Chan

I've been struggling with the recurring idolatry of control. This upcoming in-between-college-and-real-world state has got me in a funk. Even with the rebukes and reminders from the bfriend, I still harbor that anxiety and that need for control. I find myself getting frustrated at lack of responses from employers, other friends telling me about their exciting new ambitions, and the inability to respond when people ask me what I'll be doing post-graduation. For once, in a long time, I just don't know. I have way more questions than answers. But this is all so silly to me. Worry and doubt are clear indicators of a lack of trust, a lack of faith. Why am I striving to create some brilliant post-grad plan for myself? Why do I think I can figure it all out better than God can? Do I honestly think that having it all mapped out will give me the ultimate comfort? Why am I so restless?  

Truth is--- I don't have it all figured out. I don't need to. As Francis Chan says, "anything great starts with prayer," so that is where I am now and that is where I'll be until God opens that door and lays out that path that He so graciously provided. "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future." wow, what a seriously incredible statement of faith.

Lord, convict me of my foolishness. I know You have a plan, I know I should have no fear in the future. Loving God, I know these things deep in my heart, but move in me to live a life where that truth is so real. Lord, I pray I would rest in your wonderful promises and not in my unstable plans. In Your holy and precious name, amen.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, 

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

[Jeremiah 29:11]

7 more weeks...

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

[Matthew 11:28-30]

what a comfort to know that there is relief from the busy day-to-day schedules. what a comfort to know that we can find rest in a reliable, consistent, faithful God. what a comfort to know that God already knew the solutions before you even realized there was a problem. what a comfort to know that God will never leave or forsake you. what a comfort to know that God's in control. what a comfort to know that God is your strength. what a comfort to know that, while we don't know the future, we know that God's already got it all figured out. what a comfort to know that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

so crazy.

"No matter how many fascinating details we learn about God's creation, no matter how many pictures we see of His galaxies, and no matter how many sunsets we watch, we still forget. Most of us know that we are supposed to love and fear God; that we are supposed to read our Bibles and pray that we can get to know Him better; that we are supposed to worship Him with our lives. But actually living it out is challenging"- Crazy Love by Francis Chan

QT.

On Sunday, Pastor Ed's message discussed faith as he used the story of young Joshua's unbelievable battle against Jericho. I think if I were in Joshua's place, I would be terrified with the incredibly huge task set before me. But why should I be so terrified?

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
[Joshua 1:9]

do we place limits on how much we trust God? do we break down our ability to see God's consistent character as we focus on current circumstances? do we underestimate God by filling our minds with 'what if's? does our doubt blind us from knowing that God is working all things together for good? does our impatience hinder us from remembering that God's timing may be different than ours? do our feelings overpower the hope we have in God? how great would our lives be if we were more aware of God's presence and His promises?

God was undoubtedly with Joshua and his army, leading them to victory. the message in this event is altogether convicting. the battle cannot be won by our own strength. these struggles were not meant to be faced alone. when we start to think that the enemy is too strong or the task is too big, we are deflating the potential of our faith. we need to recognize that God is greater than anything and can do exceedingly beyond what we could ever comprehend.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[1 Corinthians 1:25]

dear almighty God,
please grow me to have a steadfast & unmovable faith,
equipped with the complete trust
in your promises and in your presence.

thank you for displaying that ultimate trust
in the example of your Son, Jesus Christ.
we praise you, we love you, we thank you. amen.

cotton candy clouds.

God, i am constantly in awe of your creation.
you know the stars by name, you hold the universe in your hands,
you made every petal on every flower, you paint the skies with colors
and you still care about each one of us.
thank you, Lord.

one year.

it has been a whole year since this.







this past year has been quite an adventure indeed. God has blessed me beyond measure. He's been so good in surrounding me with great people who love in ways that both encourage and sometimes frustrate me, but help me grow in my walk nonetheless. He's also brought some heavy stuff in my life, which has prompted me to trust in Him more. only by His grace have i learned so much as i re-dedicated my life to following Christ and discovered the blessings of placing Him at the forefront of my life. i pray that in this upcoming year, God grants my desires to serve and love Him more and more!


[and who woulda thunk that the third girl sitting behind me would become one of my bestest friends?!... even though it looks like she's hating on me in the pic. awwww amyyyyy!! congrats on one year since we proclaimed our faith in the waters of baptism. cheers to more years of friendship, encouragement, venting, woman-of-God devotionals, slumber parties and more awkward moments! love you sister!! ]

thanksgiving.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[Isaiah 55:8-9]

i have been thinking a lot lately. and i mean a lot. i believe that my heart belongs to God, but apparently my mind is fused with my flesh as i often strive to satisfy selfish ambitions and entertain prideful thoughts. there are so many times where i try to do so much that i realize that i don't know what i'm doing anymore. at this almost-post-college-but-not-quite phase of life, there are plenty of questions being raised and the answers are obviously unknown. i've been neglecting the present and scurrying to plan the future. it's been a recurring flaw of mine to crave that ultimate control. as soon as i think i got it all taken care of, i'm thrown off with a new challenge. every day i need to remember that i do not need to know all the answers because that would take out the mystery & adventure of life. and trying to control everything would be like trying to steal the responsibility of a sovereign God who carefully & lovingly works to direct my life. im so thankful for a God who is extremely patient, especially because i know i am not. i can't explain everything that happens in life, but i can guarantee that our faithful God knows all the answers and plans out every interaction we make and every breath we take. God knows our hearts and recognizes our flaws and still loves us. He loved us so much before we even existed. He loves us even though we tend to slip, fall, stumble and make those mistakes. He loves us so much that He gave up His own Son. and He promises us that He will not leave us or forsake us even in the seemingly loneliest times of our lives. God loves us even when we are so blinded by doubt and worry that we forget to appreciate the very life He has blessed us with to enjoy. just think about that... God loves you. oh man, that truth blows my mind every time.

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Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
[Psalm 139:23-24]

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Lord, i pray that You would break me to see more of you. i pray that i would seek to delight in Your beautiful creation and the blessings of the people around me. teach me to love others unconditionally. Lord, only by Your grace can my eyes be opened and heart humbled to completely delight in You and to not be distracted by silly worldly things. forgive me for allowing thoughts to hinder my confidence in You even when i know and believe that You work all things together for good. i pray that i would remember that these trials are set in place to refine us. our feelings are so deceptive and we seek to handle hardships on our own, but i pray that i would remember that when we are weak, You are strong. You are my rock, my refuge, my strength. You are so wonderful and i can't ever thank You enough for everything.

"what are you doing after college?"

i have some options.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you"

[Matthew 6:33]