in my place, condemned He stood.

Life updates can be found here from now on. IF there are any, that is.

Today was the first full day of being at Word Of Life. I got here at noon yesterday, and spent the majority of the day and evening unpacking and settling in. My roommates seem amazing. One is from Alabama and one is from North Carolina. I am quite possibly going to have a southern accent by the time the year is out. Today started at 6:20 for me. Breakfast at 7, a “general session” at 8. The session was nice, good music and a great messages. Soon after we went to a Food Prep Orientation, followed by a small break (not even long enough to walk back to the dorms, it’s like maybe a 10 minute walk from dorms to the building where class and orientations are held.) and then a Academic Orientation. Let me tell you, these were the most boring few hours of my life. We actually took a little quiz thing on the Food Health thing, but it was super super easy and it was self-graded. But still BORING. Apparently the majority of us will end up working with food at one point in time, we have a lot of service that is required throughout the year. As for the Academic Orientation, sounds a liiiiittle bit overwhelming right now, but I am sure I’ll get used to it. They keep saying something a long the lines of “you gotta start out running fast and slowly increase your speed” as far as classes & homework. Oh, joy.

There are lots of students from other states & countries. And only 70 out of about 170 that are from Florida. Pretty rad.

I also got whacked on the back with a bible by a Professor who I had not even met before. Ha, I was kind of freaked out. But it was funny.

Oh, and one blessing: I only have 2 roommates. There are typically 4 girls in this size room, but we only have 3 :] Stoked about having more space.

Things are going well, God is good, & I’m meeting some people and having a good time. Thanks so much to everyone who has been praying. Class starts Tuesday, so keep me in your prayers then as well. Love & miss you all!

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Romans 7:24-25
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 8:1-2
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus ….who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

“Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood
He sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

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When the desert is all around
you’re the water that consistently abounds.
When I’ve turned my back and the sun beats down,
you’re the shade that silently cools the ground.

When all I see is emptiness and destruction
you are the river that sustains life.
When all I hear is the storm approaching
you are my comforter, the never-ending source of light.

When I’ve run out excuses to not listen to your voice
you remind me that you are my ONLY choice.
When I feel like the suffering will never end,
you remind me that through the pain we are called to rejoice.

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“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?”

Can you tell me the last time you got even HALF that excited to meet with Him? I know I am not a good example. I don’t usually come home from work and think “SCORE! I can FINALLY read my bible and pray!” - I usually flop on my couch and turn on the stupid TV to “relax.”

Why do we let ourselves get so excited about movies and friends, yet not about our Creator and our only Saviour? We all need more THIRST for Him.

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(in reference to laying down her desires for love and marriage)
“A good and perfect gift, these natural desires. But so much more the necessary that they be restrained, controlled, even crucified, that they might be reborn in power and purity for God.”

-Elizabeth Elliot

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