Senioritis

It's the time of year where you're burned out by incredible amounts of extracurricular activities and very little motivation for daily homework. Plus the various scholarship applications are giving you bad dreams and you're officially stressed out over deadlines and decide it's time to go live in a convent.

WELL, Olympics have been swinging full-force this year and they have been excellent. My current favorites are Patrick chan, Shaun White, and Apollo Ohno. "But they're all male!" you say... yes, well 1)I haven't gotten to watch many events lately due to the above, and 2)Hey, I'm female. I've watched more events than I have in the past- to be honest, I never even knew there was a sport calling Curling! And quite an event it is, haha.

Watching the ice skaters has really made me want to learn to jump on the ice. I can skate in circles all day long, but I've never had any sort of training, of course. I think it would be fun, not even to compete, but just have the personal satisfaction of being strong and skilled enough to do a few slick moves or whatnot. The only problem is my younger sister is currently taking said classes, which is honestly kind of a blow to my pride. I have to get over that. But anywho, I don't think I would be bold enough to take beginners lessons... perhaps an older beginner class somewhere? Someday... Before I'm too old...

So I've decided on a college. I can't post it here, obviously, but let me say... it looks excellent. I'm excruciatingly (slight exaggeration) excited for the honors program. The campus itself is gorgeous and very new as far as the buildings themselves go. I actually got to see it for the first time this morning and take a big tour-question-event day. I had already accepted my offer with a bit of a gamble, but it looks like the gamble will pay off!

WELL I'm exhausted and I have a long list of things to do yet. There's my short update. Remember who you are!

In Christ,
Jessie

We're under fire.

It's a new year. It's time to kick things up a notch.

Awhile back, my pastor posed the question: What would it look like to take one step toward a deeper relationship with God? I definitely pondered it and even took a little action. In the end, however, everything kind of trickled off.

Any relationship needs work. Like a muscle, it needs to be constantly exercised, or else it'll simply fall back to the way it was.

I need to read the Bible more. I simply need to make more time. It's definitely hard, and I'll definitely lose at least a little sleep once school starts, but God is the most important thing. How can I sit here at say I'm a Christian when I barely know the words I preach?

Hebrews 5:12-14
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Emphasis mine)

I was raised in the church and have learned plenty simply from going through Sunday school and being around fellow Christians. But in eight months I'm leaving home and leaving familiarity for a new town where I will know only a few people, if any, and I will be forced to take a stand for my faith and witness to people who may easily judge me for what I believe. I will meet professors who will be prejudiced against me. Will I be ready to give an answer for the hope that I have?

Now, no. I don't. I know the truth and I know my God, but I don't know how to defend it. I need to put on the armor of God to prepare for the battle to come.

I know there are many out there in a similar position. Let this be an encouragement. You may not be starting college, but know that even now your faith is under fire. We must be continually in prayer and be constantly in the Bible to have the tools of defense.

Mexico mission trip

Hola! I'm in Mexico right now... just built a HOUSE! Check it out!
www.nvmexico.blogspot.com