The Greatness of Our God

So I haven't updated in a while.  I figured I should maybe write something for you 3 people who read my blog.

This week, God did some really cool things.  His faithfulness to me is so present.  He is so good! He is still doing good things.
It all began with at the beginning of this week, when I got a few calls for summer jobs I'm applying for. Basically I've applied to Group Mission Trips, and TEAMeffort, organizations that put on a short term mission trip/ service project week for youth groups.  It's been amazing because God has bee so good in them! I didn't really know what I was getting into when I applied, but just followed God.  I ended up having an initial phone interview with Group Mission Trips, and then they contacted me and had me create a interview video!  Then this week I got calls from both places, and Group Mission Trips told me that I was moving on to the final interview! I couldn't believe it! TEAMeffort then had me have an interview, so that was Thursday, and it went well! I just can't believe how God's been providing and making everything come together.  I still don't know if I'll get either job, but I'm so blessed to have made it this far! I've already learned and been able to grow soooo much from both experiences.

So that's Thursday.  And Friday was even more amazing.  I got an email in the morning saying that I had my check for my overcharge on my bill, and that I could pick up a check in the business office.  So after my class, I went to go pick it up, and it was 3 TIMES as much as I thought it was going to be! It is definitely a significant amount of money which will help me pay for school next year! I just started crying because God's really been forcing me to trust Him with money.  Basically right now, I don't have a job, I almost got a job at my school's library, but ended up being "runner up."  I had also applied at a lot of other places, and no one hired me.  I was however put on the housekeeping sub list, so I get called sometimes, it's usually random.  Definitely forcing me to trust God because I don't know when I'm going to be getting hours.  God was good in this, because I was able to get 10 hours of work last weekend! And then this check, God's just providing for me! It's so incredible to watch it happen.  And, I got a letter from my friend Sarah! It was AWESOME! She drew me pictures and everything.

Then, it was later that evening, I found out that I was getting the final interview which I already talked about and God also provided for my University Chorale's spring tour.  We didn't have a place to stay for a few nights, and someone who originally said that it wouldn't work out, called back and asked if there was any way he could help. So his church or whatnot will be hosting us, and we've gotten another concert! God totally had it all planned out.

So today (Saturday) was also incredible. My friend Cat had invited me to do some kind of children's ministry with her, and I didn't really know much about it, but she said that there was a lunch thing that we would be going to today, and we thought we would be serving, but really it was a lunch for all the volunteers.  It was great, it ended up being Urban Family Ministries, and we were going to end up working with the Super Saturday that they run, Saturday nights, at Calvary Church which is right across the road from Cornerstone, within walking distance! I met a few people who worked with Urban Family Ministries that had graduated from Cornerstone.  And then I met a few people who know my choir director very well, and it was amazing. Mary, one of the ladies, is a very special woman.  Our Chorale actually went to her house for a retreat, and rehearsed in their barn.  She also had worked with Dr. Walters for many years while he was a worship minister.  This was just an amazing and crazy connection, where I think God was telling me that this is what I was praying for.  I have been praying to get involved with a youth group/ some sort of church ministry, and I know that this is an answer to my prayers.  The lunch was great, I met some amazing people, who really have a heart to serve.  I was able to get into a deep conversations about Crazy Love, which was so encouraging.  All the people seemed so excited to have us volunteer.  There were also a lot of really adorable older ladies.   Then this evening, Cat and I went to Calvary to work at the ministry, and it was really a great time.  Some of the volunteers were like, oh "who's the worship leader?" (Referring to me) and asked me to help with music.  I just had an amazing time with the volunteers and kids that evening, they are all wonderful amazing people.  I feel right at home.

God has just been so good. And he's still working in my life, as I am doing my interview tomorrow.  Honestly, It's been just overwhelming how great God is, and how he's giving back. I'd encourage you all to see areas in your life where God wants to use you.  Developing an intimate relationship with Christ, by making specific time to pray, study his word, will bring so much blessing and joy to life.  That's how I'm feeling, and I would absolutely love for every Christian to be able to obtain that joy.  I still have a lot to work on, and I'm nowhere near perfect, I don't want anyone to take this as me being boastful, but as me encouraging you by sharing how God's working in my life, so that he may do the same in you!

In closing, I would like to share some song lyrics, just really amazing song for me this week.  It's called Greatness of Our God.  Those times where my heart was anxious, but I had to remember that God is greater than my fears.

Give me eyes to see more of who you are
May what I behold, still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known and break it all apart.
For you my God, are greater still.


[Chorus] And no sky contains, no doubt restrains all you are, the greatness of our God!
I'll spend my life to know, that I'm far from close to all you are, the greatness of our God.


Give me grace to see beyond this moment here. 
To believe that there is nothing left to fear.
That you alone are high above it all.
And you my God, are greater still.


[Chorus]


And there is nothing, that could ever separate us
No there's nothing, that could ever separate us from your love.
No life, no death, of this I am convinced!
You my God, are greater still!


[Chorus 2] And no words could say, or song convey all you are, the greatness of our God!
I'll spend my life to know, I'm far from close to all you are, the greatness of our God!

Thoughts of a helpless sinner

God is so good. Even when you think things are terrible, God still pulls through. Everytime. It never stops to amaze me.  I am so blessed, and have much to be thankful for.  I am blessed with a family that loves me, even when I do stupid things.  God has blessed me with many wonderful friends, friends back home, (and not at home but far, far away) friends here at school, and two awesome roomates!  I don't know what I would do without them.  He's given me a lot of people to greatly encourage me and keep me accountable. 
Last night, as we were driving here from my house, I was blessed with a beautiful sunset over Lake Michigan.  No picture could capture that moment, as I just praised my creator. I think everyone needs to take more notice and wonder, or fear for God when we see such amazing things.  It's sad how become so desensitized by God's creation.  Not saying I don't do it, cause I most definitely do.  But back to my story, to make things even better, the sky was clear after the sun set, and I could just see the most awesome stars.  I was just imagining how far away they are, and it reminds me of the Louie Giglio videos where he talks about the greatness of God.  He talks about how far away the stars are, and how big the universe is, and how small we are.  Really puts us in our place doesn't it? --- 
So basically Thanksgiving break was amazing, because God and I got to spend some quality time together.  That's where the whole last blog came from.  I still have to see where God's leading me, but I know he'll bless whatever it happens to be.  If anyone has any ideas or wants to join me on an endeavor to raise money to build either a clinic or dig a well, let me know! 
Lately God has really been giving me a heart to go out this summer, possibly on a mission trip.  I don't feel content with just staying home and working.  I feel like I should be out there trying to fix problems in the world.  I know I can't do everything, but I want to do as much as I can.  I haven't done enough in my life, its time to start getting out and being used by God. Who knows, maybe he will have me stay home and work here.  I think it also starts with myself.  Seeing how I want to do all this, means something else has to become less or gone.  Like Facebook. It's definitely going to be tough, but I can't wait to see the end result.
I want to encourage anyone reading this too seek to please your creator and take the time to listen to him.  So often I get caught up in the craziness and forget to LISTEN. And he's got good things to say.  And if you don't know God, he is crazy about you, and if you let him love you, he will shape and mold you into his child!
I'm going to let this be my prayer this week/ month:


Let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider HIM who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will NOT grow weary OR lose heart. - Hebrews 12


I wanna set the world on fire, until its burning bright for you. It's everything that I desire, can I be the one you use? I am small but, you are big enough. I am weak, but you are strong enough to take my dreams, come up and give them wings, Lord with you, there's nothing I cannot do.