Rainy days are perfect for drinking tea and snuggling up in bed with a good book.

So I picked up my bible. Immediately God gave me a scripture to share with my friend Kim. He has been using me a lot lately for things like that. But, that's not what I wanted to share.

I am so thankful for convictions that make me do a heart check. Where is my heart at? What are my treasures?

I haven't been feeling 100% myself over the past few weeks, and I hate complaining and making bad confessions but I have been constantly dizzy and nauseas everyday. For this fact, my boyfriend's mom has had it on her heart to pray for me. She knows that when I worry, I tend to get myself all worked up and sick over it. But on the other hand, God also tends to speak to me in such deep manners that it often gives me an uneasy feeling in my stomach. So Lisa came in the room last night when Andrew and I were skyping, and she was advising me not to worry about anything, because God is in control of everything. I didn't even realize I was worried until I opened up my bible and read Matthew 6:25-27 (NLT):

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

Then it all hit me at once, the worries that I have tangled up inside of me. Here is a list:

1) Transition period --> Am I where I'm supposed to be right now? Where will I be next year, and the following years? What does my future hold?
2) School --> Current grades, applications, where I'm going to be college-wise in the Fall
3) Summer jobs --> God is telling me not to go back to the cinema this summer, so my desire is to work at the summer recreation program in my village but that is a really difficult job to get, and in the meantime I am broke.

But you know what? God grabbed ahold of my heart tonight. He told me that if I seek His kingdom above all other things, living righteously, He will give me everything that I need (Matthew 6:33). After reading these scriptures, I have gained a refreshed trust in my God, becoming fully aware that He has everything in His hands.

And I will go back to my all-time favorite scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

This is war, so walk like the Romans.

I'm taking a class this semester called "Rome in the Early Christian Era" and when I was studying for our oral quiz the other day, I noticed some interesting things about the Romans that reminded me of some of the things that have been preached during the "This Is War" series we have been doing at Life Campus over the past couple of weeks. Although the Roman empire was very corrupt, they had some very strong ideals that could set a bar for present day Christianity.

For example, the main difference between the Greek and Roman view of the world was that Greeks viewed it as a city-state while Romans were left with the false optimism that every man could enjoy citizenship privileges. Unfortunately, however, the "good-life" was not available to just anyone during this time. In the eyes of the Romans, one's virtue could be cultivated anywhere, at any time. They didn't see their public and private roles as necessarily conflicting with one another. The height of a person’s wisdom was to know their duty and then to actually do it – not to pursue self-interest. And although their version of this statement was highly distorted, and coming from a completely different angle, it left an impact on me as a Christ follower. As Christians, God calls us to seek His wisdom, put it into action, and use it to pursue His will for our lives. It is not MY will, but YOUR WILL be done, Lord.


Furthermore, the Greeks viewed the world as chaotic and the people in it as barbaric. Undoubtedly, we are living in a corrupt, perverted, and warped society; and at the same time, facing an even bigger, uglier enemy that goes by the name of Satan. In Genesis 4:7 it says "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Did you hear that? Sin is CROUCHING! Do you know what that means? It is getting ready to POUNCE. Romans believed in the possibility to bring order to the chaos, exuding confidence and courage in the face of the unknown, translating this thought into action. And that is exactly what God has called us to do!! Through God's mighty power and shield of protection, we are able to overcome our biggest adversary. We are able to conquer it, defeat it, and take full AUTHORITY over Satan.


Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


Notice how that scripture never says anything about any armor or protection for our backs... That's because we aren't running away from the devil, we are facing him, and stopping him right there in his tracks.

We need to

Face. Our. Enemy!

Shenanigans in Oz

We started the day off right, with old school jam sessions in the car and donuts from Dunkin, leaving at 11AM on the dot: just as planned. The weather was beautiful, the wind was powerful, and $40 later, the gas tank was full.

An hour went by and we successfully arrived in the land of Oz without a care (or a GPS). First stop: Port City Cafe & Bakery for paninis and Snapple. This place was full of chalkboards, friendly faces and Kandinsky paintings. I had a "Presto Pesto" and a happy stomach. Then we met up with an old friend, much like a stranger to us now, at a cute little hippie shop next door: Midnight Sun. It was full of accessories, colors, room decor, clothes, and other little knick-knacks that consumed Kelsey and I from the second we walked in. Me, being the princess that I like to pretend I am, fell in love with a necklace with a carriage and one glass slipper dangling off the end of the gold chain. But what is Oswego without buying a headband? So that's exactly what I did.

Spontaneity and uncertainty led us to the fort, where we climbed trees and fireplace look-a-likes and took lots of photos by the lake. But walking around town in a dress in such a cool Spring breeze wasn't necessarily the wisest thing we could have done, so we ended up at John's house before too long, visiting with his mother and eating peanut butter cups.

Then, we took the Jedi (Star Wars) kite to the park and I flew a kite for the first time, documenting the entire experience. Swing sets, acrobats, slide races, and befriending an 8 year old asian boy on the playground was also present during this time.

Freezing, Kels and I ventured off to our favorite little coffee shop: The Coffee Connection. I had the Poet's Eye and a brownie, both too delicious for words.

Conquering the trenches of the breakwall, nearly making it to the lighthouse but not quite (out of fine wisdom), running, screaming, singing, jumping, and watching the sunset off of Lake Ontario was a beautiful end to a beautiful day.

Bruises and scrapes on my knee are a result, but a well worth it one.

#DTKF
#YEAHHH
#TotesCrayCray

#SpurOfTheMomentAccomplishments

Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God.

There are too many jumbled up thoughts about this in my head right now.
But to put it quite simply, I miss Ithaca.
Not only that, but I miss having a life.
Wait - let me rephrase that. Lately I've been learning how to word things more carefully, so that they are full of truth and so that there is no chance of them turning into a bad confession.

I miss LIVING my life.
Yes, obviously I'm still alive. Breathing, blinking, typing up this blog.
But this transition period is almost becoming too much to bear. Bears are powerful and strong - two things I lack by my own ability, but two things I am able to obtain through God's willingness to guide me through.

That is where my trust is lying, and He is who I am believing to receive direction from.

It's all about God's perfect timing, and the peace that comes alongside it.

I yearn for His direction and that peace of knowing that I am taking the proper next step.