Thankful

Have I mentioned recently how much I love my small group? Because I do... a lot. The girls in there are just so encouraging, loving, and nonjudgmental. Most importantly they have a huge desire to be more like Christ- and it's so great to have a small community of believers with the same goal. Then we have Paulette to lead us and teach us. She is the wisest woman I know, and I just learn so much from her. I cannot express how thankful I am for this group.

I'm sitting here preparing my talk for Monday and just reading through verses that I've read a million times, I am overwhelmed by the love of my God. Thankful for those reminders.

Last night after small group I went to the guys' soccer game. Jamie met me there and brought me clothes to change into (I was still in my interview clothes). So thankful for this sweet friend and her being willing to do that for me. Even more thankful for her being at Sharp Top with me this weekend. I wouldn't have made it without her. She was so encouraging all weekend... and just seeing her smile would remind me that I was not alone. This was a reminder of how grateful I am that we get to do ministry together at CAK- it has grown so much since this time last year. Even though our ministries look completely different, we are in it together... and that is such a blessing.

Then Jamie and I went to dinner and Chelcie joined us. Thankful that she's going through the application/interviewing process with me and thankful for her blog yesterday that reminded me that I am not even close to big enough to mess up God's plan. He has it all under control.

I'm getting ready to go to lunch with my best friend Matt. Thankful for a chance to finally get to spend time together. Especially since he's leaving me so soon. Thankful for our friendship in general that started so randomly and has grown so much just in the past few months.

Later today I get to hang out with the other wonderful person in the above picture- Nicole! Thankful for no Wednesday night classes so that I can spend these afternoons with her. And even more thankful for her friendship.

Also so thankful for all the encouragement from so many friends yesterday before my interview.

Praying this week for discernment about spring break plans. Also praying for God to speak through me to these high schoolers on Monday night.

Our God...

... is greater

... is stronger
... is higher
... is healer
... is awesome in power


My precious small group
(plus my sweet friend Nicole and beautiful roommate Natalie)

Our gracious small group leader Paulette sponsored all of us to walk in the Race for the Cure in honor of my wonderful mommy.


As well as asking for prayers for the Campbells, prayers for my mom and my friend Casey's dad would be greatly, greatly appreciated. You can learn more about their situation on my dear friend Meredith's blog or this Facebook page. I've only met Casey's dad once, but I know he is a great man of great faith and would really appreciate you praying for him and his family.

I'm just so thankful that our God is healer... that He will take care of us even through these hard times... that He is comforting me in a way that I cannot understand... that He has a purpose and a plan for our lives... that He is using these trials for His glory... that He can use me as an instrument for His kingdom.

Sickness, such as cancer and Amyloidosis, is something that I will never understand, and something that will always be so hard to cope with. I can't imagine going through something like that without faith that God is filtering it through His hands and taking care of us in all of it.