Let the homework begin!!!

"16 books..again?! You've got to be kidding me!" I felt like smacking my forehead as I looked at my roommate in class Thursday night. I laughed as she joined in, "I thought I was through with that! Oh well...lots of knowledge to be gained I guess!" Yes indeed, my semester has begun again and right now, I don't really care how many books I have. SUCH a weird feeling! lol.

This semester is off to a wonderful, wonderful start. My RA has a deep passion for Gay Ministry and Sunday night we went to "birthday dinner" and I listened to her share her heart for these people and how God is opening doors in her life for over an hour. I treasure moments people open up and share their passions, dreams, faults, weaknesses, and struggles; when all this is centered around discovering where God wants someone and where He is calling them, I feel like I've been given an insight into God's heart. God has established wonderful and incredible plans in us. Sometimes...those plans come with hardship and pain. Sometimes it's a clear shot to the target where He wants you. And sometimes those plans are like puzzles; we have the whole outline and some of the pieces, but we're not really sure where the other puzzle pieces go. God can use and will use us if we are willing to be shaped, molded, spun about and used. 

Later this week as I went to my classes I grew increasingly excited and increasingly...worried about my homework load. But I am so excited about the homework and classes. All the classes flow so good together. I am back in some music classes, which is so great and enriching. I learned some interesting stuff about hymns that is fascinating. According to the rhythmic meter, certain hymns can be sung to another musical tune. Example, in 8.6.8.6 meter, Joy to the World can be sung to Amazing Grace and vice versa. Cool!!! Three of my classes have a "Creative project" in which I will probably do some expressionist painting/music for and so I am excited about that. And I am in two women only classes! One is Ministering to Women in Crisis and the other is Women in Missions. They are great! So refreshing to get together with several women and study God's heart and direction for women in the past, present and ourselves. The Crisis class is fantastic for what I'm pursuing in life. God has been developing in me a love and passion for women, especially in crisis and I think this class is going to amplify that and equip me so much more. 


But...enough of this! haha...why do I love school so much?! I am excited to see what God has in store for myself and my friends this semester and my prayer is still that He breaks my heart for what breaks His, teach me patience, and to love people like He does. 

Rain, Gardenias, and Jesus...

So what all do these three have in common?? I love all of them!! 
 Rain is the most peaceful sound ever and I like rainy days where I can grab a book or good movie and chill under a blanket. Rain is so refreshing and smells great; probably because it cleans all the dirt and makes everything clean. Two things with rain is walking before it rains, when the wind kicks up and then walking during the rain on a warm spring or summer night is wonderful! haha...I once walked with a friend at school, Maddie, barefoot around our campus when it was like 35 degrees...needless to say, we about froze! One of my favorite lyrical lines "I wanna wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof" is from "Come Away with Me" by Norah Jones. My house lets the sound of rain in really well and every time I hear it...I smile and just chill. :) 


 Gardenias are my favorite flower and they smell heavenly! I had a gardenia plant that bloomed twice while I had it and the blossoms smelled wonderful. They are gorgeous flowers and they are dainty and simplistic. Their scent is different from any flower I've ever smelled. It's a light, spicy, flower scent. Almost like jasmine, but not as strong and heady. Now that my plant has long since died, I've yet to find any more plants and so I just burn candles and wear the fragrance. haha you do what you can, right? 


 Then...Jesus. He brings a smile to my face; a huge smile. Not only did he create the rain and the gardenias, but He created every plant, season, person, and element in the world. Now, I realize that God created the heavens and the earth and that Jesus is God's Son, but according to what Jesus says throughout the Gospels, He and His Father are one. So when I say Jesus created everything...it feels and sounds weird to say "well actually God created everything, Jesus' father, but they are one". But there is no mistake in that Jesus, God's Son died on the cross for my sins, and the sins of the world. Jesus' willingness to do and follow God's guidance and direction even to His death, still amazes me. And to think He gave His life for me? That someone could love me so much they would do that? Wow. I've been reflecting on God's grace so much this semester. It is truly amazing the grace that we have been continually offered and we're just asked to trust, believe, and obey and love Him in return. God is truly an amazing and incredible God!!