BBC Sports - (what I've been up to...)

Game #2 blue vs. gray...(that's me down in the right corner, kickin the ball OUT of bounds)
A cool pal named Shane...He came prepared, top hat n' all.
Okay, so Chris took this picture and I'm not entirely sure what I was doing...it looks like I may or may not be curtsying.
Erica & Me...GO BLUE TEAM!!!!
The BBC Lady Blazers, being caught during a candid moment after our victorious tourney game today!
This is Dj looking "sporty"...Erica chucked a ball at him as he posed for this and I actually enjoy the way the picture came out.
It makes me look like I'm a pretty amazing photographer, eh?
BBC Ladies showing off our tuff-muscles!

*Sports are going well...more great photos and updates to come!
For now, just remember that "Sports are about ministry" as coach Starks would say.
God is good!

I am a WOMAN

Sometimes I find myself in wonder asking, "Who am I? What am I doing in life? What's my purpose?" Now don't take me the wrong way here, I don't have a low self-esteem or anything, I believe these questions are quite natural, and I must say that since I met Jesus these questions have come as more of a wondering than an evaluation of who I'm not. I know who I am in Christ. I am a woman that hungers after my King, my Lord, my Prince of Peace.

So what am I doing with my life? Right now I am pursuing God's will for me at Bible College. The greatest truth about this adventure is that I am entirely inadequate, but I've been called and I need nothing more than the still small voice of truth from Him to guide my steps. I'm here because my heart desires to be no other place than exactly where He wants me. God has breathed on me and given me the strength, the mindset, the understanding, the challenge, the stretching, the growing and the breaking I need during this season of my life.

What is my purpose? I believe it's to follow the call of the One who loves me most, the One who knows me best: Jesus Christ.

I was browsing through my hymnal the other day and I happened upon a lovely hymn that instantly touched my heart. It was entitled "I Am a Woman". What does this mean I asked myself. Reading the words, the truths of who I am, what I am to be doing in my life, and my purpose were clearly defined.

To all my beautiful Mom, Sherri, Jess, Auntie Deb and many more sisters in Christ who read this, I pray these words touch your hearts in a special way. We are daughters of the King, called to bring Him glory! May the God of wonders love on you today everywhere you go.

"I am a woman
Called to be a servant
Bound by the grace that Your love imparts.
Lord, make me humble,
Teach me to follow;
Make me a woman of Your heart.

I am a woman
Called to speak with wisdom;
Shining a light that will lead to You.
Lord, give me courage
To be Your witness;
Make me a woman of Your truth.

I am a woman
Purchased by Your mercy;
Bought by the love that would spare no cost.
Lord, make me holy,
Loving You only;
Make me a woman of Your cross."

come heal our land

This week on campus it was Spiritual Advancement Week. It was a great time of intimacy and stretching with the Lord.
This week God too me to places in prayer I've never been before.
I was brought even deeper into His presence, to be made more like Him, to be filled so that my cup not only runneth over, but gushes over.
This week I pursued my Pursuer.
My Lover, my Friend too me by the hand and spoke His words of life into my heart.
He had burdened and broken my heart so that it might break with the things that break His heart.
What a Mighty God we serve!

This is a new song Dave Klob taught us and I believe it speaks prophetically over not only this campus, but our world...our neighborhoods, our homes.
It is my heart's prayer to see the blind eyes opened, the deaf ears unlocked, to see our generation healed, to have life breathed into the dry and THIRSTY souls. God pour out over this place. Rain down!

"Lord hear our cry,
Come heal our land
Breathe life into these dry and thirsty souls
Lord hear our prayer

Forgive our sin
And as we call on Your name
Would You make this a place for Your glory to dwell

Open the blind eyes, Unlock the deaf ears
Come to Your people, As we draw near
Hear us from heaven, Touch our generation
We are Your people, Crying out in desperation
Hear us from heaven, Hear us from heaven, Hear us from heaven…"

Words & Music by Jared Anderson © 2004 Vertical Worship Songs

Adventures in 'Quispamsis' (last Sunday)

So, last Sunday morning we headed to Quispamsis to go to Kings Valley Wesleyan Church again, with the blessing of being able to celebrate Nicole's Mom's birthday afterward, complete with freshly cooked, homemade food: roast beef, potatoes, carrots, rolls & icecream cake. We certainly leave there well fed. It was a gorgeous day and a great day to share in fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It's nice to celebrate God's goodness and blessings over delightful food and heartfilled laughter.
God is certainly gracious and good.
He is constantly showing us His favor!

(Nicole *roomate*, Nicole's Dad & Nicole's Mom *birthday girl*)
Tim, Trevor, Derrek, Ben & Chris (the boys, waiting for the yummy grub)
Group photo on the Finlay's porch -t'was a gorgeous day outside!
The girls: Jess, Christy & Nicole

good news

An exciting announcement:
Today the results for CROSSWINDS, our college chorale were posted and I was selected as a soprano for chorale!
I am much excited about the things God has planned during the rest of the school year with this chorale experience.
Oh how I love to praise my Jesus in song. Oh, how I desire to worship Him and to share the joy of Christ with all who see.

words of wisdom

Found in the church bulletin this morning at Kings Valley Wesleyan:
"Volunteers are not paid - not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless."

Before the Throne of God

My challenge to those I love today is to ponder the sacrifice Christ made for you. Remember who you were before you came to know Him. Remember who you are in Him. Remember who He is. May these words from a SonicFlood song called Before the Throne of God stir within your hearts a desire to worship the Lamb, the King of Kings: Jesus Christ.

" Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the Risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I Am,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.

One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God."

He is near

In fellowship...
In walks...
In meal times minus family...
On the field...
In the wind...
Shining the sun, warming the earth...
Down the hill...
Up the hill...
Rustling in the leaves...
In laughter...
In long talks...
In Your Living Word...

You, O Lord are always present. Your plans are great and good.
You fill us with a confident hope and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
You love on us in all things great and small.
Daily as I meditate on Your word, I find You.
The more I seek You, the more You reveal Yourself in ways like never before.
You are deep.
You are mighty.
You are good. All the time, You are good!

His faithfulness

"God is not man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind,
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"
-Numbers 23:19

There is truly nothing like walking in the presence of our loving Savior, daily.
To know the Christ who is not only Savior, but Teacher, Friend, Lover, Counselor, Maker, Ruler, EVERYTHING.
To be intimate with the Lord and hear His still small voice whispering words of life and truth into my soul is a gift, a blessing that far surpasses anything else. Words can not express nor explain how God has both protected and strengthened my heart over these past few months. Thank You Jesus for guarding the precious chambers of my heart, for speaking with authority over any other voice that caused me to doubt. Thank You for open arms and Your word of truth. You alone are my strength and my song. I praise You Father for restoration and lessons that will carry through many many years, probably my entire life. Thank you for being my JOY. my PEACE. for granting me GRACE, LOVE, PATIENCE,KINDNESS, SELF-CONTROL and WISDOM.

Without You, where would we be?
I thank You that You are mindful of ever the small things.
I exalt Your name, sweet Jesus, because YOU are ALWAYS IN CONTROL.
I know this truth because I've walked in it.
I've stood on the foundation of Your word, making You my hope and confidence.
I've come to you in weakness and You've heard my cries.
I thank You for being the light unto our feet and path. You never allowed us to waiver from Your will, even though stubbornness may have felt better than the truth. You are GOOD, GOOD, GOOD!

I worship You my King!
I thank You for all of the growth that is to come.
Let us walk as an example that glorifies Your name!
:) You make my heart smile Jesus!

I'm a fork and my roomate's a spoon!

This is my roomate Nicole and I, preparing for our freshman competitions.

Our competition included two other groups of knives and straws!
Appreciation for this strangeness can be contributed to the lovely president and mind behind the activities
Andrew Glidden.

first day at school

First big night on campus.
I've arrived. I'm alive and well.
God is good!
I have a new roomate named Nicole which was a nice surprise!
My parents took me to dinner, twas' yummy!
Played some volleyball with the upperclassmen before chapel this evening.
Ate icecream.
Met way too many people and only remember probably 10 or so names.
Lots of information.
Lots of stuff to do.
Busy days ahead, but I rest in knowing that God is in control and that I can trust Him with everything.
Chris is at BBC with me.
Nick Bull is at BBC with me.
Jess Burden, my childhood neighbor is with me at BBC.

(Just the lowdown of my day! Miss you all! Love ya!)

casting our cares upon Him

Well only two more nights in my bed and I'm off to BBC.
It seems like it's taken forever to turn September...but looking back, it sort've snuck up on me.
Sometimes I wonder why short spans of time seem so long, while looking at long spans of time sometimes seem very short. (strange, I know)

Today, just like any other day, was nothing short of an adventure for me.

God's blessings never cease to amaze me and I must say that He is always faithful in hearing our prayers.

I just finished reading a great book by Max Lucado called Traveling Light. *God's timing is always perfect.* It speaks about Psalm 23 and how we're called to rest and allow Christ to lead. He is our Shepard. Going over Psalm 23, Lucado picks apart the luggage we tote around each day of our lives like trunks full of guilt, backpacks of shame, suitcases of disappointment, worry, envy, ect. When we stop though and drop the luggage, and don't pick it up anymore, we're trusting the Father, Jesus Christ, our ever loving Savior, to protect us, love us, provide for us and take care of every need. "His yoke is easy and His burden is light..." (Tis' a good read).

So in keeping with the theme of a book I finished yesterday, I dropped my luggage before the Lord today, including my suitcase of worry.

I must cast all my cares upon Him and trust. He is good all the time. His faithfulness was shown once again in the favor of a loved one at customs this afternoon. God brings a peace that surpasses all understanding when we trust Him more than our fears. Not being in control is a scary thought, but the Bible says in Psalms that when we trust the Lord He makes us as "sure footed as a deer". Deer are graceful. Now I don't know about you, but at times, I'm not particularly graceful on my feet....however, thinking about this, I believe I would take it to mean that as we trust the Lord, He'll guide our steps, we'll be surefooted (or graceful), simply because He's in control and He's holding our hand each step of the way. NO more worries about silly things. Worrying isn't going to put gas in the car, get you across the border, fix a relationship, pay the bills, raise your children. With God, all things are possible!

"His grace is sufficient and in our weakness, His strength is made perfect..."