The Truth

If you can do anything else with your life, you probably should.

Life as of lately...

Well its crazy, I'll just throw that out there first. So many things going on. I would like to apologize for well lets be honest, never posting anything. I think my life is somewhat under control right now and I am going to try to keep up with my blog. 

So, Update: 

Last Tuesday, we received our letters that said weather we were accepted back for another year, or not or blessed to not come back and pursue other things. I decided not to close the door of masters because I thought that this was probably where God wanted me next year, so I applied. The application had a lot of questions on "your hopes and dreams for the future." So in my interview with Liz we talked a lot about Royal Rangers. I have felt it on my heart the passed couple of months to stay here in Rockford and start (or help develop, seeing as how it has already kind of started) the Royal Ranger program. God has really made me at peace with the idea and I now know that I am going to be in Rockford until my work is done - as Leah Hall told me today, she said to bloom where you are planted and keep blooming until you are uprooted. 

So knowing that I got my letter. We had the next like 3 hours after that to read them and talk to God and whatnot, so I walked to the nearest Coffee shop (Mary's Market) and journaled a little. I wasnt nervous at all about the letter. I then got a soup bowl (one of the handful of times this whole year I actually bought food somewhere) and read my letter. I was kind of surprised to see that I wasnt excepted back for a second year, but at the same time I was very curious. Then the more and more I thought about it the more I was excited about it. This means that the staff felt that I was to move on and pursue the things that God has put on my heart, and that if I were to stay for a second year it would only restrict me even more and hold me back from those things. 

I am currently looking for an apartment here in Rockford, and am planning on moving back here after this summer and living here, working and volunteering at the church pursuing Royal Rangers and aiding in advancing the program. What the program is now (four fourth grade boys and two dads) and what it may become is ridiculous. God has given me a vision for this church and the ridiculous amount of boys whos lives could be changed through this ministry here in Rockford. I am unbelievably excited about what God is going to do. It is going to be so good. God is in control. 

Lately I have been struggling with the mindset of me being done with masters. Its not okay at all! I keep having the attitude of "well I only have a few weeks left anyway." And It's Not Okay! I pray against that and am pursuing after God harder than ever. A runner doesnt slow down at the end of a race, they speed up and sprint the last lap or so. That is what I Pray will happen from now until graduation. God is good and he is faithful. 

If you wouldnt mind, I have some things that I am in need of prayer for:

One is my missions trip in many ways, first that the Lord would provide the 800 dollars left I have to pay to go on it, and that I would be motivated to call people who are close to me and ask for their help with finances. (I plan on doing that today.) Second is that the Lord would give the staff wisdom in calling off my trip - its in Mexico by the way... yeah - or possibly rerouting it. I know that it is going to awesome wherever and whatever we do.

Another one is guidance and favor from the Lord in finding an apartment and a Job for next year and also a Job for this summer. I dont want to work just anywhere, no matter how cool it is or how much I enjoy it, if its not where God wants me to be. And the same with my apartment, I really want to live by myself but if thats not what God wants then I dont either. 

And finally that  I would stay in the right attitude the rest of my time here before graduation, and that I would make the most of every opportunity God has given me and that I would do those things that I know I should do, just because I should do them. May I finish this year stronger than ever pressing towards God in every waking moment, and not allowing any room for those things that shouldnt be there. 

Thank you so much, and may God bless you immensely.

First Post!!!

So I have been wanting to start a blog for the longest time and Im finally doing it. I guess we'll see how well it goes. 

I think an apropriate thing to do for my first post would be to explain the title of my blog. αϋξω is a word in the Greek language spelled auxō. It maens to cause to grow, or to grow, or increase. I was looking through my Stong's concordance one day because I just love Greek words :) and I just kind of stumbled over this one. It knew God had give me this verse. He told me he was going to use me to help  people grow closer to Him. He showed me a characteristic he had given me of going deeper. When I learn Im just so hungry for knowledge and often times ask as many questions as I can, always trying to get more information. I often have a open mind about things, and try not to put things such as God and life and other concepts in a box and am prepared for anything at anytime to cange my overall perspective on who God is; In fact I look for those things that challenge my view and understanding of God because that is the only way we grow. A couple of weeks ago in ACs (Acountability Cells, kind of like a small family of about twelve people in Masters) We did a day on dreams. I told God that I didnt want to write down my dreams but that I wanted him would reveal to me what he wants me to do. Things started popping into my head. As they did I wrote them down. 

My Dreams:

1. To lead and train 10s of thousands of boys to become men of God and leaders among the nations through Royal Rangers.

2. To become a famous Photographer that, Through the pictures I take peoples lives a changed.

3. To become a famous Chef that serves thousands of people and have influence of the loves of other people through the food that I cook.

4. To Climb a 14b Rock climb

There is one thing that is not written down but is very crutial. All of these dreams are centered - will take place in or will be carried out in - Ireland.

I was  very surprised at these dreams. I knew that they were not of me, but from God. I would never have been able to make them up. And whatt got me is that the numbers were specific. I remember becasue I originally thought that for number one it would be thousands but then God corrected me and said 10s of thousands. Its funny how God knows our hearts better than we do and gives us exactly what we want, and need, when we trust him with everything we have. God has been teaching me so much lately about his faithfulness and who he is to me and also who I am and who he created me to be.