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Saturday, December 24, 2005 

Keep the Faith

I was reading a friend of mines blog today and I was reminded of the reason I came back to Purdue to finish my education. I had been feeling this calling from God to return to Purdue and get my degree. The verse that kept coming to mind was:

Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

This verse spoke volumes to me when I felt scared or worried about my decision to step out of my comfort zone and to leave behind my friends and family and the security of a good job to finish my education. I didn't know anyone in Lafayette anymore and I was older than most of the 'traditional' students. The whole idea of going back was just plain scary. But this verse and also a song by Casting Crowns kept popping into my head. Not only that, they kept appearing in random places whenever I was doubting my decision to go back. One instance that stands out in my head the most was when I took a trip back to Purdue to register for classes. I left early in the morning from Goshen and drove down to Lafayette and visited campus and a day care center for Raegan. The day care was scary! I couldn't imagine leaving my little girl there for hours every day. And being back on campus and feeling so alone on the big campus was overwhelming. But all of a sudden the words to the song I mentioned earlier started playing in my head ....

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

That was exactly how I felt on that day. I felt scared and I felt like I was gonna fail. But then the chorus to the song followed in my mind ...

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

That very weekend at church the Jeremiah 29:11 verse was displayed on the powerpoint presentation and the song by Casting Crowns was performed by the worship band. I thought, "if this is not a sign from God, I don't know what is ..."

So I listened to God. Raegan and I packed up and last January and we moved to Lafayette. We left our friends and family and my job behind to listen to God.

One thing I've noticed since I've been back at Purdue though is that I've put God on the back burner. He was such a central part of my life before I came back here. He was the center of my life. He was the reason behind my return to to PU in the first place. But once I got here it seemed like I got so busy and caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of college life that I started to forget. The last few weeks that fact has become more and more relevant to me. I've been taking steps to get Him back at the center again. I feel like I'm on my way, but so far they've just been baby steps. I've looked up a few churches online in the Lafayette area and I'm planning to check them out as soon as I'm back after the holidays. Things have just been so hectic this year but that is still no excuse for letting my personal relationship with God suffer. I don't think anyone should ever use the excuse of "I'm too busy to work on a relationship with God." If anything, you should be too busy not to work on that relationship. That is what I have to keep remembering. If I make the time for God, everything else will fall into place.

this really warmed my heart, christy. I know you are on the right track! i have been praying for you especially about what you wrote about. I can see Jesus working in your life, lighting up your eyes, softening you....I love you very much!!!!

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  • Hi, I'm christy!
  • I'm from the southeast region of the United States.
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