Not knowing _______... 

Can be the worst--and best--thing. 

I have a bad habit of skipping to the end. Of a book, a TV show, a movie, even a magazine article. 

If I know someone who's read the book I'm about to start or seen the movie before I did... I always ask for spoilers.

Like, I know who wins the Bachelor/Bachelorette every season by Episode 1. I knew Bella had a half human/half vampire baby by skimming some of Breaking Dawn while I was still on New Moon. 

I'm a sucker for a good spoiler. Yeah, yeah, yeah.... I'm the worst. 

Funny thing is, knowing the outcome of a good story never really spoils the narrative for me. I still enjoy it all. Beginning to end to middle. And then back to end. Kind of gives me something to look forward to, or in some situations hope for.

Harsh Reality:

Life does not really work that way. Life is not a book and I can't skip to the end. I can't take a peek at the outcome, crossing my fingers that all ends up well, then settling back into life as I know it, waiting for my end to arrive. 

Lately I've been struggling with this absolutely daunting feeling of simply not knowing. Specifically... not knowing what career I'm going to take up when I graduate college next year. And its not just mild uncertainty. I literally have zero ideas about what I could possibly want to do when I graduate. My mind changes like the wind on this particular subject. I am quickly arriving at a crossroads in life, with bags full of debt. Trying not to let that weigh you down can be a little tough. How on earth can I hope for a job that I still can't even conjure up in my mind?  

I know this sounds like the worst. But knowing Jesus has taught me that this can be the best thing. 

Exciting Revelation:

My future is not indeterminate and someone does know the end of my story. Not only does he know the end, but he wrote it... along with the beginning and the middle. 

God, in his vastness, is not daunted by my prayers. He is not afraid of me asking Him what exactly my future holds. And whether or not he decides to clue me in on the events or not really doesn't change the fact that he's looking out for me. 

Romans 8:28 tells us that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." 

It goes onto say that God "knew his people in advance." As I look into my murky future, I choose not to be intimidated by the not knowing. The Holy Spirit has given me this sweet assurance that I will be called up to fulfill the perfect plan for my life, designed by God himself, when the moment is right. I don't worry about tomorrow because I have an intimate relationship with the Almighty. And he created all of the tomorrows and todays and yesterdays. Sunrise to Sunset, I put my hope in not what I can see, but in the One who sees in all. It blows my to think that a God that big can love little old me. 

And folks. That's all I really need to know. 

To all you who just don't know...

Chin up ;)

K

Walking as Jesus Did

Something to pray for each day this week: 

     Holy Spirit, 

Grace me with the strength and wisdom to walk as Jesus did. With gentleness, humility, and love. With boldness. So that Christ may be glorified in my life and others may see how wonderful He truly is. There is love and life to be shared and delighted in with each moment of life. Carry me through these moments. 

     Amen. 

Summer Book Club

Hello lovelies!

I, unapologetic-ally, am taking this summer to burn through my collection of Christian Living books. 

And when I say burn I mean read thoroughly and introspectively for the utmost comprehension. 

;)

I love me some Jesus. Like, if you don't know Him, please please please seek Him. Heck, just learn a lil something about him. The Man changed everything. 

I also love me some literature. 

So I really love reading about Jesus. 

I am being ambitious with this reading list. These books come highly recommended from my closest and most trusted friends. They are written by some of the pastors that I most respect. 

Needless to say...

I am excited to be challenged    and stretched    and encouraged    and grown     this summer. 

Now, these books are never to be equated with the Word of God. 

But y'all. I am 20 years old. If I have the chance to learn from great Spiritual leaders via the written word (that happen to be soaked in the very Word of God), I am SO gonna jump on that. 

So without further ado,

My List:

So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
I Am Not But I Know I Am by Louie Giglio
The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
Radical by David Platt

All of this books have been under my own roof for the past year. And because school can be such a bummer and zap all your time and energy (I mean.. stay in school.. because it rocks.. seriously.) I am NOW finally getting to reading them all. Yaaayyyyyyy!!!! :)

So. Join me! Pick up a book, pick up the Bible! Learn some more about this crazy guy Jesus. See what he really did for us. And thirst to know more and more about Him. To fall more and more in love with Him. 

That's my hope this summer. Every season actually. 

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Love,

K

Back to the Blog

I owe you (whoever and however many you may be...) an apology.

Its been, what, like 3 weeks since my last post? YIKES.

I blame this on my lacking time-management skills, my slowly dying laptop, and my overwhelming desire for sleep. Post-finals recuperation, if you will.

But I'm baaaaack! And I'm here to stay.

You couldn't get rid of me if you tried.

I'm still trying to figure all this stuff out. You know the types of post I want to do, finding my blogging voice, convincing myself I'm interesting enough to maintain an audience...

the blogger's usual.

In other news...

I am a television fanatic. I get wayyyy too invested in more than a handful of characters. The same kind of goes for movies. And I am a loyal fan.

I saw all four Pirates of the Caribbean films in theaters. Mind you, I was 10 years old when the first movie came out. And IMDB is telling me there's gonna be a fifth film in 2015. You bet your life I will be in my nearest theater the day it comes out. Growing up, I watched the first 3 films so many times (like dozens upon dozens, no exaggeration), I had the lines memorized. They are my absolute favorite.

Like I wish I could be Pirate King Elizabeth.

SO. These past few weeks, season finale's have been rolling out. One of my favorite times of the TV year! This week, my two favorites aired their conclusions: How I Met Your Mother and New Girl. 

And they couldn't have ended more wonderfully. 

I saw the Mother. And holy smokes not what I pictured. But I repeat, I SAW THE MOTHER. Hallelujah she actually exists and Ted will be happy and in love again!!! I'm super excited for the coming season. 

Annnnnd OMG Jess and Nick are doing this thing for real!! They're actually gonna see where their lil romance goes! Ahhhhhhh so happy lol. 

The box office has also been chock full of some movie greatness this past month. My two faves: The Great Gatsby and Iron Man 3. 

I read the great Gatsby last summer and fell in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing. I mean dang that bro has a way with his characters. And I love love love me some Baz Luhrman. And he knocked this adaptation out of the park! Absolutely beautiful in Lubrman's perfectly unique way. I highly recommend seeing it, especially if you've read the book. And if that isn't enough here's a little extra motivation...

Mmm. 

Final words. Iron Man 3 was entirely enjoyable. Tony Stark *spoiler alert* ends his Iron Man career as no other hero could. I'm a sucker for a good Marvel film. See it :) 

Until next time!! 

K

The Perks of Being An Aggie

There are many wonderful things about going to A&M. Countless things.

But at the top of the list... at least top 5... There is Breakaway.

Breakaway is this big, on campus bible study, that exists solely for the purpose of connecting Aggies to Jesus. Breakaway meets every Tuesday night in Reed Arena. The study is led by Ben Stuart, Director of Breakaway, and all around wonderful person.

I cannot imagine my college experience without Breakaway. I heard about it before I even moved into the dorm. Breakaway became a place of refuge and weekly restoration during my Freshman year. The messages were all so timely and encouraging, totally soaked in the Spirit. In the middle of so much change, it was nice to take a break every week from the stresses of college life to just spend time with Jesus. 

So when volunteer positions opened up last Spring, I jumped on the application!

I had an interview about a month before I left for Passion 2013. The week of Passion, I found out that I was accepted as a volunteer. And I've been serving for Breakaway since.

It has been such a blessing to be a part of such a powerful ministry. I could go on and on about all the ways God is using Breakaway to minister to people here in College Station, and all the way around the world in China!

And what continues to surprise me is the outpouring of support Breakaway gets from Aggies across campus. It truly is the meeting place for our university's Christian community. 

Well, I'm done bragging about Breakaway now... haha. I encourage you to check out some podcasts! Ben is a wonderful speaker and the Lord has totally equipped him with the specific tool set needed to minister to college kids. You'll enjoy his messages, I promise!

Oh! The reason I actually started writing this post...

The Jeff Johnson Band is a huge part of Breakaway, leading us in worship most nights for the past few years. Jeff and his wife, Jourdan, and their band are soooo great. They just released an album on iTunes today, as a means to fund another album. Turns out this album is just crazy good and hit #1 on the Christian Music iTunes Chart not long after its release. Whoooooop ;)

Available on iTunes!

Please please please go give the Jeff Johnson Band a listen! We at A&M and Breakaway LOVE the Johnsons, and we really love that they love praising Jesus!!

Yeah. So. Love you blogging world.

Peace. 

K.

Easier Said Than Done.

 

http://shinystarrlight.tumblr.com/

I honestly can't add anything to this quote. Its just a lesson that God has seriously been teaching me over and over and over again this year. Yes, year. I'm coming to realize just how deeply-seeded my unresolved things are in my heart. 

 

Things done to me in the past that I still have yet to deal with. 

Emotional scars from sins that are long gone.

Thoughts and feelings that stir and scare me about the future.

But I'm being patient. 

I am praying, praying, praying, constantly praying through everything unresolved. 

I ask for healing and for wisdom and for understanding and for encouragement. 

And I ask for patience.

I acknowledge that I have issues. 

Consequence of the Fall of Man into sin: We ALL have issues. And that's okay.

God deals with us. And He works all things together for the good of those who trust in Him. 

So the things that are unresolved do not define me.

And they certainly are not staying unresolved.

I am welcoming the work that will be done in my heart.

Sometimes having God bring to mind sin and struggles in life is messy. And painful.

But I welcome the pain and the mess, because it is only temporary.

The sooner I go to Jesus, the sooner He can get to work on making me more like Himself. 

Awesome quote. Wonderful lesson. 

Grateful for a God who leads me into these seasons of resolution.

We certainly are journeying somewhere wonderful together.

Love,

K.

Thoughtful Thursday

I've been lazy lately guys. I am so sorry. I haven't quite yet got the blogging thing down, and getting in the habit of posting regularly is still something I'm practicing. 

But I really would love to hear from you, or a follow! If you have a blog too, post about it! I would love to check yours out! 

Anyways. Here are some things that are seriously getting me through this crazy week.

 Pray for Boston. Pray for West. Pray for healing.

Love,

K.