2 in one week. On a roll like a tumbleweed.

So I can't believe it's only Wednesday, and at the same time I just want this week to be over! So much is going on I literally need 4 of me to complete everything that needs to get done. And yet I'm blogging, haha. Oh well, it's a fantastic way to get emotion out! :)

On the bright side, Christian Showcase things are going swell, despite a few mishaps.  Good thing I know how to trust in the Lord and lean NOT on my own understanding. Because a few things that have happened, well, let's just say in my own strength it's not possible.

On another bright note, today is my 2 month anniversary. Yes that's sappy and a bit lame, but I don't care, I'm blessed!

Schoolwork's favorite thing to do is pile up on me, it seems. *Random comment*
My day today:

Woke up at 7- did Insanity workout
8- showered
830 ate and made snacks for the day
9 class
10 went to Amy Grant congo- *Ask me about this, something really cool happened!!!!!*
11 another class
12 another class
1 another class
2 another class
3 finally done. Did homework. Cleaned.
530 went to Target
7 home
8 cooked dinner
Now more homework

Tomorrow I start Classical Voice lessons. Which means even MORE to do and memorize, but I'm excited about it regardless! My teacher is phenomenal.

If y'all could believe with me in prayer about this next... month really, it would be wonderful. I am believing God HARD for and confessing every single day my healing for this next month.  I CANNOT and WILL NOT get sick.  Too much is at stake. You see, sorority recruitment is this weekend, which means 6 hours STRAIGHT talking (really, shouting) one on one with hundreds of girls in a room full of 200 people.  I CANNOT LOSE MY VOICE! So I'm pre-speaking life into the situation! It's going to be GREAT in Jesus name!!!!! :)

And then Sept 8 is Live auditions, and Sept 22 is the showcase. So... safe to say I gotsta be healthy! And I will be. But prayers, are appreciated.

Today, in "Jesus Calling" the devotion was all about resting in Jesus and allowing Him to work out our time and our schedule and ALL the things we have to do. When we give Him 1st place, our time expands and time seems to pass at the speed we need it to! I definitely received that today!!!!!
-They call it "waiting before working".
-Praise, Amen, Halleluyer, I needed to hear that!

We get so caught up in life, we forget to "be still and know HE is God!" Not us. We aren't in control.
We must give that control up.

Again, preaching to myself! Revelation of these simple things is so cool and life giving! Yay points for God, being right, like always. Flesh gets in the way so many times haha. Once we see it for what it is, it's pretty much the funniest thing ever. Casting down strongholds and things that try and have grips on us is fun too! Once you realize that one day we will look at the devil and say "WHAAAT!?! He's THAT SMALL!? And I let him bother me that much and mess with my mind and emotions!?" So get a head start, and CHOOSE to be joyful and positive all the time!!! :D

That's really all I have for tonight.
I'm random, I know.
But hopefully this still blesses you, whoever you are!

Megs. :)

How deep a deposit of love.

So I've officially been here 2 1/2 weeks now... and I've spent a lot of time observing.

I observed during TT week, I observed people in all of my classes, I observed conversations, I observed my teachers in their interactions with students and how they teach. Now, I don't say this to sound creepy or to give off the intent that I have been staring at people for the last entire 2 1/2 weeks, but what I'm saying is that I've tried to keep my eyes and ears open more, and my mouth closed.

What I saw, obviously, were some very different situations.

People's ticks, people's smiles, the way people touch their hair or face when they get nervous.
The way people shift their weight on each foot while telling a story.
The way a person may walk into a room full of people they know and not acknowledge anyone.
The dimple on someone's cheek when they smile.
A beauty mark on the side of one's face.
The way a teacher looks at you when you ask them a question they don't really know the answer to.
The look a teacher gets for a split second on their face when they're uncomfortable or thrown off guard.

All these observations, though one person might see as faults, help make up who a person is.

And... as I'm learning more and more each day, is that we should learn to love these "faults".

On another note...

God didn't create me to be anyone else but ME.

For example, I wasn't created to be...Jessica Biel. And no matter how gorgeous, talented, or famous she may be, I wasn't created to be her. Nor am I supposed to compare myself to her, or any other female on the planet. In any way.

why?... keep reading...

So as I've been looking and listening, this very principle has manifested itself in my life just in these last 2 1/2 weeks in a MASSIVE way.

Especially if you're a girl, speak this out loud.

God created me, (insert full name) to be me.
God DIDN'T create me to be (insert name of person you always compare yourself to).
If God wanted me to be (insert that person's name again), then I would have been created as them.
God never fails.
Therefore, I'm not a mistake.
I am perfect in His image JUST the was I was created.

Now, these are such simple statements, aren't they? Nothing you haven't heard before...
But these past few weeks, I don't know I guess they just finally CLICKED for me! And it's so extremely POWERFUL!

That means, that every single time I've compared myself to somebody else, I was putting my ways above Gods. I was saying that God, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, messed up creating me, and should have created me like someone else. That means, that I was putting my own abilities above His, and WASN'T submitting to His authority or His abilities.  I wasn't trusting Him. I was walking in fear. I was ashamed. I was in doubt. I was LACKING joy. I felt worthless. I didn't feel worthy of love.

Because all I was doing was letting Satan tell me I was nothing.
Too this, too that.

Well, I'm here to tell whoever is reading this that YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH!
Because Jesus was, when He died on the cross for You. (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE)
And the cool thing is, is that it doesn't matter WHAT name you put in there, the law still applies.

There's no "if and only if" property like you're solving a proof, there's no "but I have zits all over my face" or "I need to lose 5, 10, 15, or 100 lbs."
If you didn't change a SINGLE thing about yourself, right now, it's impossible that God could love you any more, or any less.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 that we are to "come as we are, those who carry burdens, that we may enter into His REST".
That word can also mean peace.

A new school year has begun. Classes are stressful, time slips away faster than the 5 hours of sleep we get a night.

But Jesus has come, to give us the Mighty Hebrews 4 rest that He has PROMISED us. And still promises us. He cannot fail, and never will fail us because His love for us is EXPLODING all around us!!!

I think of the picture of me sitting in a dark room, and flipping on a light switch... you can't see what direction the light is coming from, because it is ALL around you, it surrounds every part of you and casts away any fear that came from sitting alone in the dark.

That's what Jesus wants to do in your life! He wants to wrap His Fatherly arms around YOU, and comfort and guide you through this upcoming year, and through the rest of your life! There is a reason His name means helper, friend, love of your life, Abba Daddy, Healer, Redeemer.

So that if at any moment you NEED Him, He can meet and WILL meet your every need.

How deep a deposit of love goes.

And God, loves you SO much.

It took me so long to realize, but now that I know that I KNOW that I KNOW He loves me; I can finally outpour that same magnitude of love upon others, and let others love me back.

I now don't throw compliments out of my head within a second after they're given, because Satan tells me I'm not deserving.
I now accept a hug from a friend instead of squirming and squeezing up because I think I don't deserve the love.
I now smile and say the simple words of "thank you" whole heartedly when someone compliments the anointing on my singing voice, because I can accept God working through me and I know that my thank you goes directly to Him who gave me a voice for Him.

I'm empowered, strengthened, and have a vision and dream for my life.

There is POWER in the name of Jesus. To break EVERY chain.

Let His LOVE abide in you, and do a mighty work. You can be made whole, and made NEW.

MJS.

New Year: New Perspective

(Above) 1) Belmont Bruin Mascot
              2) View from my Apartment Complex! Downtown!

So this summer was nothing less than amazing.

A lot has changed in my life; you can probably see it manifested even on the outside.

God is so good, all the time, and although I've said it before, I really got revelation of this these past 3 months.  God grew me up a lot, and led me into leadership roles I never would have thought I was ready for.

He grew me even more into a mature adult, and further away from acting like a teenager, even though I technically fall under that category.

I was introduced to many new situations, as well as people, that have changed my life forever.  One group in particular, well, I guess two, were the 2 women's groups for my church I got the privilege and honor of leading worship for. What they may not know is that they are the first people I consistently ever led for, haha.  That opened the door to leading worship for my College & Career group as well.  All around about 70 people or so. A great start!

But what was really meaningful were the relationships that I acquired and built through these groups.

Through these 3 groups I got even closer with my 2 college group leaders, as well as every wonderful lady in the women's groups.  They each helped teach me that I don't have to be perfect to impact others, and a strong leader doesn't always have to have it all together.  It's okay to be vulnerable; in fact, that's what makes a good leader.  People have to be able to relate.
The women especially were so gracious to open up their hearts, pasts, and lives to me, making me feel completely at home upon my first morning/night there.
And man, the level of thickness of the Holy Spirit grew, and grew, and did I say GREW, each and every week.
We saw people healed, changed, and forever delivered from SO many different kinds of bondage that "the stupid one" Satan tries to tie us up in knots with.

I cannot even begin to DESCRIBE how impacted I feel, how much I appreciate every word spoken over me, every prayer, and every smile given to me by these women.
I cannot even begin to describe the WISDOM that flows in that group.
And lastly, I cannot even begin to describe how much I miss them already, and it's been less than a week.

I know that God has me here for a season, and although I was NOT ready to come here, and moreso LEAVE home, it's already been night and day in comparison to last year.
I'm coming in with so much more confidence, faith, hope, love, and assurance that God's got my back.
I'm truly operating out of God's love, because I've learned His love in regards to me.
I'm confident, and self assured in the most humble way.
I'm ready to be a servant of the Kingdom.
I am working toward so many goals God has so wonderfully placed in my heart of hearts.

I am EXCITED and JOYFUL!

And that is something that the devil has NO right to take away, and never will.

Belmont 2012-13 school year, get at me, because I'm going through this year, and coming out on top.
Even through trials, I know that I was given the victory when Jesus Christ died on the cross for me at Calvary. I know He's seated at the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven, smiling down on me because He loves me, and I can't wait to fulfill His plans He's specifically designed for me.

I can't wait to share what I learn with others, and use whatever God has done in my life to help even one person in need. Because Jesus didn't just die for me, but everyone, and people need to know that!

So anyways, it's good to write again, GREAT in fact.
I AM a new creation.

Goodnight. :)

Megs.

p.s. I've lost 9 pounds! I have been delivered from the bondage of over-eating. That mess has BECOME my message! :) Ask me how! :)

p.s.s. I have an amazing boyfriend as of this summer. He loves the Lord and is my best friend of 8 years. Yay God for being funny and bringing the right people in your life even when you're 13 hours away and least expect it. Haha. ;)