150 Days of Psalms.

Hey guys! 

How is your Wednesday going so far?

Mine could definitely go by a little faster.

This week is seriously dragging on.

But of course what else would I expect when Spring Break is 2 days away?

Ah Spring Break.

So close, yet an entire Anatomy exam away.

I am taking a moment away from studying to tell you all about something awesome that Matt and I are doing!

As of yesterday we have (only!) 150 days until we get married!

So for the next 150 days we are going to read a Psalm a day.

Together we will read our daily Psalm, pray, and see what God has for us.

We are so excited to do this!

Yesterday was our first day, and it's awesome to see what God is already showing us through His word!

I want to encourage you to get into the Word!

At church this week our pastor challenged us to do a 21 day reading of the Gospel of John.

I am personally reading Exodus right now (because the Old Testament is important too!) so I'm not reading the Gospel of John, but I do think it is a good idea!

Like I said in my last post, 21 days is supposed to make a habit.

Since there are 21 chapters in the book of John it is an easy way to get in the habit of reading your bible daily. 

If you have a hard time getting into God's word, I recommend starting with just one chapter at a time. 

Psalms are actually really awesome, because they're short, extremely real, and you see so many layers to God and His character.

Do you have a hard time believing the bible is real? 

Or maybe you believe in the characters but not the stories in the bible.

Maybe you think it's all a lie.

Maybe you're an atheist.

If that's you, I challenge you to prove the bible wrong.

God doesn't mind a challenge.

If you are willing to question and challenge God, that means your heart is open to truth.

Challenge God.

Find out the truth for yourself.

Isaiah 55:11 tells us;

"So shall be my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed for which the thing I sent it."

Just open God's word.

He promises you'll get something out of it.

So that's what we are doing.

What could you do?

Blessings,

xo/Austin

Confidence.

Everyone is insecure about something.

I think a big insecurity for girls is appearance and comparing ourselves to others.

I am going to share my retaliation to the world...

Every single time I look in the mirror I repeat this verse:

Every time.

I do it whether I have positive or negative thoughts.

That way I get a constant reality check for what actually matters.

Question: What do you do to gain confidence?

Weekend is on it's way!

xo/Austin

Pearl of Wisdom.

Do you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

Not just grumpy, but soaking in your own self pity?

I do sometimes. 

Today was one of those days. 

I woke up and had to go to my 8 am lab that I really hate, so that obviously started my day off on a poor note.

Most days I am great and happy and thankful and level headed.

Then there are those "girl days."

That's what I choose to call it, because thats what it is! It's one of those days I act like a girl. 

I have a friend who openly admits that he believe every girl is crazy. He says some are less crazy than others, and some almost never show their crazy sides, but every once in awhile that crazy side will come out and you will see her act like a "girl." 

So through my morning I was kind of moping. And have you ever noticed that when your head is in a place of self pity that everything in your life seems to be about a million times worse than it was when you went to bed only 8 hours before, yet nothing in your life has changed? That's how I know Randy is right in saying we're all crazy.

Only, I think guys have their crazy sides too. 

The truth is guys, not only are we "crazy," but we're selfish.

This morning when I was in my mood I wasn't thinking about anyone but myself. 

Poor me, I miss home.

Poor me, they don't treat me how they should treat me.

Poor me, school is hard.

Poor me, I need a job.

Poor me, I'm broke.

Poor me, poor me, poor me.

The problem with that is that thinking solely about yourself is 100% against what the bible tells us to do. 

As the day went forward, I began to think about what was so devastating in my life. 

These are the things I came up with...

1. I am a broke college student. Which I very quickly realized that the statement is an oxymoron. Simply by being enrolled in a private University like Liberty makes me a part of the top 2% of the richest people in the world. Whoa. Talk about humbling.
2. I miss home. But I get to talk with the people I love and miss every day if I choose through my iPhone or MacBook. Not to mention the fact that the people I miss are alive and well, it's not like I am missing someone I will never see again.
3. I'm tired... because you get the privilege to wake up to go to class so you can get a higher education that will result in a degree in the field of study you love. You poor thing.
4. I need a car. Do you need a car? How does the other 80+% of the world get by without those? I think you'll be fine.

At that point I stopped because it became apparent to me that my problems were problems that the very high majority of the world couldn't even imagine being so lucky to have such a "problem."

Then God slapped me in the face.

I was reading in Romans and this is what I found:

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he forknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:28-30

 For me this caused such an impact. Not only are the "problems" in my life not problems, but they are blessings.

That passage promises that not only did my God predestine me for His purpose, but he promises that for those who love Him, all things work for the good.

I have read this many times before but it's called the "living word" for a reason. God spoke to me through this today and showed me how much he loves me.

I was so humbled that the one and only God who made this earth and everything in it predestined me. He had a plan for me from the beginning and he promises that as long as I love him everything in my life will work for good. 

Something I need to be aware of is that sometimes God's good isn't what looks good to me from my angle. But news flash, God knows more than you. He's smarter than you. And though you might think you know what is right, you never know better than God.

So today I chose to give self pity to the Lord and instead accept his promises on my life. 

I choose to be thankful for my trials and even better see them as tools to work for God's good and ultimately my good.

Question: What in your life do you let self pity take over for? Is it really that bad? Could it be that God is really using it to better your life? I don't know, think about it.

xo|Austin

You are Being Used.

Since I left home and came to Virginia, I have been questioning a lot of things.

Why am I here?
Should I be in this major?
Am I as strong as I thought I was?

You get the idea.

Yesterday I had the coolest realization, that has just been reinforced over and over again in the past 48 hours.

My Question: Am I being of use to the Lord?

I am taking a New Testament Survey class. In which we are to read the entire New Testament by the end of the semester, and read corresponding text with it. Currently I'm in the gospel of Mark.

In my reading of the text also assigned for the class, the author is giving an overview of information that he believes we should know in order to understand the writings of the New Testament.

Throughout the text, the author is talking about different historic events in which different rulers controlled Israel. They are talking about different courses of events in which languages changed for the land, and other factual evidence like that.

Reading the text, I realized something. God had a purpose for each and every person in these historic stories. Even the worst of the rulers, God used for His purpose. Even what seemed to be the worst possible events, God knew they were coming, and He knew exactly how to use them to better His Kingdom.

This arose the question in my heart:

If God can use the most wicked of people to better His Kingdom, why couldn't He use me?

This thought process continued. I thought about all that I had just learned and all that I read about, and this question came up:

If we are saved, if we choose to give our lives to God, and know that we are going to heaven, why doesn't God just snatch us up from earth right then? Why keep us down here?

My answer to that question is this:

God doesn't need you. He doesn't need me. He didn't even need Moses or Paul or Peter. God can do it all by himself. He created us not because he needed us. He created us because he loves us and because he is the definition of love. He wanted relationship, just like we so desire relationship. God doesn't take our free will just because He is our Creator. He loves us and wants us to love him back, so he leaves the choice to us; Do you love me? Loving God means we give up our own Kingship position in our life, and set God in that position. It means we no longer are in control. It means we are not the most important thing to our life, but God is.

When God is the most important part of your life, your life should reflect that. Following his will and is word. The reason God doesn't take us the moment we decide to love him, is because we are here to be his warriors. We are here to fight the battle on God' side. He uses us to better his Kingdom and to fulfil his plan. If it were up to us, we would say, "Take me to heaven now." If it were up to me, I would want to be in heaven. Not down here with the cancer, and pain, and sadness. I would want to be with my Creator who loves me more than anyone on this planet ever could. But thats why it's not up to us. Life isn't about you or me, it is about the Lord. It is about his purpose, and his Kingdom, and his plan being fulfilled.

So next time you question, "why am I here," remember that you are here because you are useful to God.

I am useful to God. I am helping God fulfil his purpose.

Everyone want's to be a part of something bigger than themselves, right?
You are a part of God's plan--doesn't get any bigger than that.

Be confident in who you are.
Be confident in why you're here.
Be confident in the Lord.

Don't take this mission lightly, allow God to use you.

Chao, loves.

xo/Austin

College is Hard.

I have been in Virginia for a week and a half now.

I've finished a whole week of classes.

I've made friends

I have prayed a whole lot.

I have talked less than usual.

I have laughed and cried.

Summary of college so far: It is hard.

In college it's up to me. Not my teachers to tell me.

In college it's up to me. Not my Mom.

In college it's up to me. Not my friends who have always been there.

In college it's up to me.

And I like that.

I love being treated like I am an adult. Because I am an adult. I am appreciating the fact that I am not back home, because I know I wouldn't grow into the  woman God has called me to be back there. I needed to be taken out of my comfort zone to grow. I needed the push of His promise of provision. I needed the threat of change for my life. I needed the challenege of persuing question of "Who am I?"

Here at Liberty, I am forced to lean unto God for my strength.

College Faves:

1. We talk about God in class!
2. The schedule I am forced to live within.
3. The work is constant and challenging.
4. My relationship with God is growing already.
5. I get to introduce Matt as my fiance daily!
6. Every student on campus is prayed for DAILY.
7. I am challenged in my faith daily.
8. Running on campus.
9. Packages!
10. Constant exercise walking to class.
11. Prayer groups, every Tuesday night.
12. Studying and having dinner with my fiance every day.
13. I am taking bible classes. They're so awesome!
14. The true appreciation of food when you finally get a good meal!
15. My roomates!

College Stinks!

1. I need a job NOW.
2. Liberty is full of rules that I don't always agree with.
3. It is bloody hot and humid.
• With freak thunder and rain storms every couple days.
4. The celings and walls in our dorm are barely there, so we hear every footstep and celing falls on my in my sleep.
5. My Anatomy lab is going to be hard.
6. I'm terrible at math, so that class hasn't been fun.
7. Textbooks are out of this world expensive.
8. I'm super broke all the time.
9. My bed time has been pushed back 3 hours.
10. I am homesick and really miss everyone.

I don't feel like anyone can truely understand the meaning of homesick until you experience it. It's hard to be in a state that you don't have any friends. No one that knows the real you. No one that has seen what you can and will do for someone you love. No one that has seen you at your worst and who has proven themselves through that. No one that knows who you are, who you have been, and who you want to be. No one who you can call at 2 am and ask to come over.

And I have Matt, I can't imagine how I'd handle it without him.

I have learned a few things about myself from my week and a half at Liberty, some I'm comfortable with, and some I am ashamed to admit:

1. I am shy when I don't know anyone.
2. I can be extremely insecure, when I am around people who don't know my heart.
3. I can be judgemental.
4. I hate accents.
• I used to think they were cute, now they're just annoying.
5. I am not addicted to coffee, but I am much happier when it is in the picture.

For now, this is where my total college experience lays.

I really am enjoying it. Yes, It's hard, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. I know I am learning a lot, and I am making friends. I am confident that with each update on here, I will express more and more love for Liberty, college, and the Lord. And that is what is most important.

Love, love, love.
xo/Austin

Second|Corinthians 4:18.

This morning during my quiet time reading my bible, I was reading in 2Corinthians..

This was the verse what really stood out to me today--

"...because we look not at what can be seen but what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

This really got me thinking. This specific verse is referring to heaven. This chapter of Second Corinthians is a lot about looking toward eternal life with God. But beside that, how many things can you think of that are everlasting that we cannot see?

1. The Lord.
2. Heaven.
3. Love.
4. Memories.
5. Hope.
6. Faith.
7. Integrity.
8. Compassion.
9. Joy.
10. Trust.

These are only ten of the hundreds of unseen treasures we are blessed with, but I don't think anyone would arugue with me when I say these are some of life's biggest blessings.

They say "The best things in life are free.." In a way, yes, I agree. The best things in life don't cost you money a lot of the time.

God loves you for free, but it's hard to give love freely--unconditionally.

God promises to be faithful--but its hard to have faith in someone other than yourself.

God provides you with compassion--but you must learn how to have compassion on others.

I could go on forever. The thing is, life itself and the afterlife--aren't completely free

They are offered to us freely, but like anything in life, we have to act to recieve these free gifts.

You aren't going to take a beautifully wrapped present from someone and then set it in your closet and never open it, are you?

Life is never a stand-still. With any of God's greatest gifts, you don't have to do anything to deserve it. But you do have to act on it.

You have to take the gift, and open the gift.

"...because we look not at what can be seen but what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

Open the gift.

xo/Austin