Pursuing

In A New Place

2007-02-04T21:32:00.000-05:00

Well, the promised post about my whereabouts has finally arrived. I'm a 2nd semester freshman at Maryville College. Last semester at PCC was definetely interesting. In the end, though, I had to transfer because of the unnacreditation. Since I'm on my way to med school, it's very important that I receive my bachelor's from an acredited school. I was leaving for BJU in two days when my parents decided Maryville would be best for me. They have a 90% acceptance rate into favorite med schools and I got 22,000 dollars in scholarships. Also, I got my own dorm room, which is very unordinary for a freshman. It just seems God worked it out, so here I am! It is definetely different than what I'm used to, but I'm trusting God to use me and keep me strong. I'm striving to live today for Him, then tomorrow, then the next day....taking one day at a time.

REALLY Long Time No Post!

2007-02-01T23:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been a world traveler since I last posted! I spent the fall semester in Pensacola, FL at Pensacola Christian College. Now, I am at Maryville College in TN. Funny, I NEVER thought I'd go to school in Tennessee. Actually, I hoped I wouldn't. :) The real reason I didn't post was embarrasing. I forgot my password for blogspot! I'm so forgetful! I'll post more later on why I came to Maryville and left PCC. Goodnight for now!

New Experience

2006-08-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

I had surgery for the first time! Granted, it was only the removal of my wisdom teeth (not wisdom, mind you), but it was so painful! The Dr. said the pain I was experiencing was totally abnormal. I was on percaset for 7 days! It was so horrible. But it's over now! Thank goodness. No more surgery for me anytime soon.

Praise Him!

2006-08-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

It seems amidst the hustle and bustle of making preparations for college, God has been working. A girl in my room at PCC when I stayed for Pre-Med camp told me Monday that she accepted Christ. On the plane to PCC I had prayed that God would send someone to me that I could be a blessing and help to. When I met her, I immediately knew she was the answer to prayer. I talked to her long into the night for several days, and it seemed she had had a very hard childhood and was currently in some very bad situations. She told me she was already saved, but upset at God. I prayed for wisdom in the situation and the right words to say, but it seemed nothing I said was efficient. I went home feeling as though I had let God down. She and I kept in touch, and when she said she had gotten out of the bad situations and accepted Christ as Savior, I knew He had had a plan in this. We don't always know the outcome of a situation, but we must be obedient to God's calling anyway. I am so thankful that this girl found peace and became a child of God. I know it was nothing I did or said, but the Holy Spirit working in me. It is so wonderful to know that God would use me in such an awesome way. I look forward to being used for His service in the future! Please pray for my friend.

Summer Days, Drifting Away....

2006-07-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

Wow! It's been quite a while since my last post and time has totally flown by (can you believe it's almost August!?!). Not much has happened, so I didn't feel that I had anything very interesting to tell you all. I'm still working every weekday but Friday (YES!) and I get two whole hours for lunch! This means I usually eat with Jered or my mom and get a much needed breather in the middle of the day. My job is so awesome.
I'm beginning to feel a few freshman butterflies, though I don't think the initial shock of leaving home has hit me yet. I've heard it takes a few weeks of school before that happens.....something I'm definetly NOT looking forward to! I am looking forward to the new environment, however, as well as the actual schoolwork. I am so eager to learn! I just can't wait to soak in all the new concepts and facts that are out there......just waiting for me to grab hold of and never let go. I feel so useless this summer! I've done zero schoolwork. Do you know how it feels to come home and not have to study or cram for a test? I greet the issue with mixed feelings, therefore I am so ready to tackle academics again!
God has been really good this summer. Even though I never see my friends, I know I always have my closest Friend with me. I feel I've grown closer to Him as new issues and situations have risen. He's been there to gently lead and guide during my confusion in difficult issues. I am so excited to learn also what He has in store in the coming months. I know He has something so amazing planned....greater than I can imagine.
Hope everyone is doing well! I miss you all so much and think of the six-pack plus one everyday. Love you seniors!

Glitter

2006-06-06T13:46:00.000-04:00

No, this post does not discuss the B movie starring Mariah Carey. I'm talking about the exciting "glitter" of everyday life. I have to look at it this way or I get bored! I have this HUGE advantage/disadvantage of loving change! I don't like to get into a rut of a schedule. So when I wake up and know I am doing the same thing everyday until August, I remember that this day CAN be different. Maybe I'll touch a new life. Maybe I'll shine for Jesus like never before. Even though I live in a world of schedules, I know that the details of the day can be different. God can bring someone new into my life to help or encourage, or He may decide to show me something new in an old way.
So when you feel like the same old same old is getting you down, do something to make it shine. Give it an extra "sparkle" that will release it from the ordinary. Pray that God will show you new and exciting things in your everyday life. He will!!

Blank Page

2006-05-30T19:24:00.000-04:00

Well, school has finally finished! Graduation was so cool. I had so much fun, yet there were mixed feelings about walking across the stage to a new life. So much is unknown. Amidst the uncertainty is the excitement in knowing I am headed to a new chapter in my life. I will have a new lifestyle and new friends...I can't wait for all the changes! I hate getting stuck in a rut and the redundancy of everyday life. Newness is such a blessing to me. I guess it's just the adventurous nature coming out in me.
Not only is the lifestyle change something I look forward to, but learning new things is also an exciting adventure. I love to learn! And to think I'll be studying something I am actually interested in....not like Economics or something....lol Now all I have to do is get through the long summer months!!!
I do have a praise...my speech went well, for the most part. Thank you Jesus! I could NEVER have done it without His grace. You know the saying that God gives you just the right amount of grace you need at certian times? Well, I definetely needed Him, and He was there. I had a writer's block when penning my speech and after I let go and realized I couldn't do it in my strength, the words seemed to flow on the page. He never ceases to amaze me.
Pray for the seniors as they fill that "blank page" with decisions. We need lots of grace!

FINALS WEEK!

2006-05-22T22:06:00.000-04:00

Everyone out there-please pray for the seniors this week as we finish our year strong. Exams bring on CRAZY amounts of stress, so pray that we'll lean on the One who has the strength to get us through. Only four more days!!!!

Determination

2006-05-15T18:39:00.000-04:00

I have been a bit discouraged this week and have learned how fulfilling it is to cling to Jesus. Sometimes I like to just sit and talk to Him, as if He is my dearest friend and we are having a "heart to heart." He listens better than anyone else ever could, and understands me whether I explain myself well or not. What an amazing blessing.....to have Jesus as our Best Friend!

Something I have come to realize is that He wants 100% of my efforts in every area of my life. It is so important to rely on His strength and not my own, but I must do all I can to reach the goals I have set for a life of service. This week I have learned that it will be hard to give 100% all the time, especially with so many people telling me it doesn't really matter. But I chose to follow Him and serve Him with my life, and I must give all of myself to Him everyday-regardless of what others say or think.
Just want to encourage all you guys out there to give it all you got for the Master. He deserves it and we will receive joy in doing so.

Stand in Awe

2006-05-08T13:46:00.000-04:00

Psalms 33:8-

"Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Psalms 4:4-

"Stand in awe, and sin not..."

Take a moment today and stand in awe of your Savior.

2006-05-04T16:31:00.000-04:00

Ever heard the word "stressed?" Well, thats one that hit home today. I can't believe it's only three weeks till graduation! I am so excited, yet anxious at the same time. What will I do as I step out into this new world of college? How will my life change? How will my dreams change? my friends? my academics? So much is uncertain, and I find I am trusting God now, more than ever. Stressing over an Advanced Math quiz is one thing, but add a whole new lifestyle to the picture and...WHOA! I'm too young for this!Nevertheless, I know He will be with me through it all. And somehow, I know He will get the glory through it. God's faithfulness is such an awesome thing! And I think, with Him being so faithful, I should mirror that characteristic and also be faithful to Him.
Psalms 71:18- "Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength to this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." We read this chapter in youth last night and this verse really struck me. I read it over and over again thinking, what an awesome desire! To long for a lengthy life, not for my own pleasures, but for the sharing of the gospel with the lost world!

Ahh, the Return to Normal

2006-04-29T12:34:00.000-04:00

We seniors finally made it back after grueling hours on tiny, unfriendly airplanes. It was so good to see mom at the airport waiting to welcome us home. I personally could have stayed another month, had my family (and Jered) been with me. Costa Rica was like another world...an escape from the normal.

Now I have begun to fall back into normal routine, though I read an entire 350 page book yesterday (wish I could do that everyday!) . I love the escape from the daily routine, probably why I enjoy traveling so much. It is good to be home and back in my old bed.

One thing I am already beginning to miss is how close God seemed in Costa Rica. It was as though everywhere I turned, I saw Him in something or someone. The danger of coming home is forgetting what He showed me and falling back into "the mode" of the redudant, ordinary lifestyle in which God ceases to seem new and exciting. I pray that we, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Ranck, will keep that passion of seeing God in every detail of daily life. I pray He will never cease to be real to us, and I hope that we will continue to seek Him fervently.

Senior Trip is the Best!

2006-04-26T20:24:00.000-04:00

Well guys, its official....Belle has fallen in love....it happened last night.

We had traveled for four hours to get to a resort up in the mountains. The atmosphere was absolutely gorgeous! Our backyard was decorated with a real live VOLCANO!! It was so awesome. Once we got to the resort, we hiked up a mountain and saw the most beautiful waterfall. It was so amazing to see how God had created it, and how it fell exactly where He wanted it to. Later that night was when it happened, the falling in love part, I mean. We visited a Hot Springs lodge. There were seven different pools of water, beginning with the lukewarm and ending with the hottest. It was the most exotic experience ever! We even sipped down some piña coladas (virgin, of course) topped with cherries, pinapples, and paper umbrellas. There were waterfalls inside the pools! The water was completely pure, no chlorine added, and heated naturally by the region´s volcano. It was totally rad!

On the way to the resort, we stopped at a little village tucked beneath the mountains. And there, in a town that was probably even without a post office, was a catholic church. Because most of us had never been in a catholic church, we walked in to take a peek. It was unbelievable. The intricate designs of the tiling on the floor to the paintings on the ceilings made me stand in awe. How sad that these people waste their entire lives putting efforts into something that doesn´t even matter. They spend so much time trying to work their way to Heaven with empty prayers and good works and yet, it will ultimatly lead to eternal death. I inwardly cringed as I thought how I did the same thing. How often do I spend so much energy pursuing things that don´t matter, instead of placing all my attention on furthuring God´s kingdom? Why do I pursue temporary pleasures instead of sharing the hope I have with those with empty hearts? It was definetly an eye opener and I thank God for that. Pray for the people of Costa Rica, for the dominant religion is Catholosism.

Lisa and Ishmael (pronounced ees-mi-el) have been our guides during this trip, and they have been such a blessing. They have served in Costa Rica for fifteen years. We had a devotional time a few nights ago and they shared their testimonies. The share time has really been a blessing during this trip as the class has opened up to each other about what God is showing them. I thank Him for using this trip to not only draw us closer to each other, but also to Himself. One particular song that touched my heart the other night had these words:

Rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes He knoweth the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried, and purified
I shall come forth as gold.

It is a blessing to know that God has a plan for each of His children. Even when times are hard and we don´t understand why, we can have the comfort that He is in control.
Continue to pray for us as we fly out tomorrow. We can´t wait to see you all!

God´s Creativity

2006-04-23T15:27:00.000-04:00

The Seniors of 2006 finally made it to Costa Rica yesterday. And boy, let me tell you, was it a long trip! There is only a two hour time difference but taking that into account along with the forever long flights yesterday I almost fell alseep in my orange jello! Thank you Lord, for the safety you blessed us with.

Today has been a beautiful day. I mistakenly thought that the weather would be hot and humid since we are closer to the equator, but it is wonderful! Walking outside is amazing. There are gorgeous flowers and tall palm trees everywhere, and the heavy breeze is just what you need to complete the atmosphere. Our hotel is completely exotic. No one closes the outside doors so there is always the smell of flowers and palm trees carried in the building by the wind.

I have eaten some very interesting food so far. Yesterday it was palm tree heart in my salad, today it was a weird passion fruit (the exotic name left my brain) that looked like maggots in seeds. Neither were my favorites, to say the least, but there are also very tasty foods as well. Lots of various types of salad, every kind of rice and bean you can think of, and very very delicious fruit. All of these are absolutely wonderful! If I stayed here longer than a week I think my weight would succeed the plane limit. Yes, God has blessed this country with women (and, perhaps, men) who have mastered the art of cooking.

Today was one of the most amazing days of the trip. (I will probably say that everyday!) We worked with a church during the Sunday School time. There were over eighty children of all ages that participated. We taught them some Spanish songs, gave them wordless bracelets, and painted faces. The children were so receptive to the message, and seemed to know the gospel very well. I just melted when the children, despite the language barriers, came to sit in my lap and play with my jewelry. I couldn´t help but pray that God would use people to reach these children. What opportunity that so many Americans have and never use, yet these children long to here more and may only here of Catholosism (the dominant religion here) in their growing up years. Pray that God will send more men or women to reach the children of the world. If only everyone of you could see the need here, I am sure you would be willing to sell everything you own just to tell these precious children of salvation.

I wish everyone would be down here with me to experience God´s awesome creations here. I miss you all and can´t wait to experience what else God has in store for our group this week. Please continue to pray that God will use us and show us more of Him.

Seeing Me for Who I Really Am

2006-04-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

I had a great weekend! I had the opportunity to go to BJU to see the Living Gallery (Jered was in it). It was so awesome! The artwork was amazing, and to think that they were real people in the paintings! I went backstage after the program and saw some of the cast members, they looked very funny.

But even more than the paintings, it was the message they told that touched my heart. Some of them showed Christ on the cross, and these were the ones that really got me. How unworthy I am to receive such an amazing gift! Me, full of sin and pride, was given the most precious gift-salvation. I had tears in my eyes as I left the auditorium, and thankfulness in my heart. I was ashamed that I am not conscious everyday of my life to be that thankful for my Savior's gift. My prayer is that we will be that thankful every day and that each of you will keep a heart of gratitude to your Savior for His sacrifice. Thank you to Jesus, for being willing, and thank you to God, for sending your precious Son.

Time for a Change

2006-04-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has come for me to move on from my good ol' email account. (This is most due to the fact that I forgot my password and have no idea how to get into my account.) Email is a thing of the past! Blogging seems to be such a more efficient and convenient way to converse with your peers, especially with the prospect of everyone going their seperate ways due to college coming up in the fall. I like changes, so I'm excited about this one! Maybe, just maybe, it will help with my computer skills (or the lack of :)). I guess we'll find out!
Belle