Little Blessings

     This week has been... eventful. Seriously. First, to start off the week, Sunday was my 19th birthday! Yay! My last year as a teenager... yikes! That is quite scary!!! Then that night I got sick. I'm on the mend now, but it was so miserable! I am in Bob Jone's HUGE Egyptian opera called Aida. I am a Priestess, and we had two big rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday. Now, when you are sick, and barely able to function, being on your feet in a Rodehaever production does NOTHING to help you get better.  However, a small blessing from that was that I was able to forget about school, and all the tests and projects that had accumulated because of the snow, and just have some fun. Finally, after not dancing for going on a year, I was back into the swing of things on Tuesday night! I am SUPER pumped about Aida! Please come! March 18, 20, and 22! Info is available at bju.edu :)

     Another small blessing came tonight. As I already mentioned, this week has been eventful... and rough. Tonight however, I got a letter in night mail (mail between the girls and guys dorms). The letter contained a Starbucks gift card, an extremely encouraging Bible verse, and a note that read, "You put a smile to so many faces. I hope this puts one on yours." Boy, it sure did put a smile to my face, a huge one! The letter didn't give a name, it ended with, 'praying for you, a friend'. I am dying to know who it was from, but it blessed me so much! Guess where I'll be headed tomorrow??

     It's just the little things, those little blessings. The bestie Hannah, who gives me a note for my birthday and makes me cry. My choir singing happy birthday to me. My friends asking me if I'm ok when I'm calmly eating my Chick-fil-A sandwich out on a bench in the sunshine for lunch. It's those little blessings. The friends that make me laugh when I'm having a bad day. That one friend that randomly texts and emails me verses and encouraging quotes. The other friend that won't let me lift heavier weights than her when we are working out together. The roomies that never fail to make me laugh and never judge me even when I'm high on sugar and literally bouncing off the walls. It's the Mom that likes to have emoji wars with me and sends me pictures of my cats. It's my sister that snapchats me pictures of her nose and herself wearing MY clothes. It's my brother that always calls me BooBoo. It's the Daddy that always makes sure I'm doing ok and if I need anything. The little things...those little blessings.

     Here is the verse that was in my letter. May it bring a smile to your face, just like it did to mine!

"Always be joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus." 

~Philippians 4:4-7, God's Word Translation

Snow, snow, snow!

It is so crazy! There is actually snow, here in South Carolina, and it's sticking! Amazing! But the best part... there is no school for two days! I'm hoping they'll also cancel classes on Friday! Sadly, I can either choose A) to be productive and do ALL my homework like a good college student or B) go outside and play in the snow until my hands develop frostbite. Ok, ok, there's been a little bit of both going on. :P It's not everyday something like snow happens.
     Our room also has a visitor! Her name is Lauren! She is my choir buddy and keeps me sane in choir! I don't know what I'd do without her! Anyways, since she's a townie to BJ, she is "snowed in", so we graciously accepted her into our loving fold!
     The Olympics are on! Get off the internet and go watch it! :D Byes for now :)

Still, My Soul Be Still

    Sometimes, things don't go the way you'd like them to go. No matter how hard you try, or pray, or plead. It just doesn't work. And sometimes, we just need to let it go. Lots of times we completely understand why some things don't work out. We really do. But...it's just not fair.

    This semester, there have been so many things that the Lord has been teaching me. He is shaping me and molding me so much that it is hard sometimes! Job 23:10 says, "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold." God is going to continue to refine me and shape me. It will go on until I die. I need to be still, and listen to Him.

     At school every single night, (Sunday and Wednesday nights we do personal room devos), my room gets together with two other room to have prayer group. We can do whatever we want in our group devo time. I seriously have the best prayer group ever. All 8 of us girls have become so close these past few months while at school. We have been able to share prayers, concerns, praises, testimonies, and some of us have even shed a few tears. I am so blessed to have those girls in my prayer group. Last night, we were in one of the girl's rooms for prayer group, and she had us share one of our favorite hymns. Before coming to BJU, I knew alot of hymns, but until you go to BJ, you only think you know alot of hymns! I have learned so many new songs while I have been here. It has been such an incredible blessing! The song that has been on of my favorite's for quite a while now is the hymn "Still, My Soul Be Still." Here are the words, and I hope they bless you as they bless me.

    Still, my soul be still, and do not fear, though winds of change may rage tomorrow,
God, is at your side, no longer dread, the fires of unexpected sorrow.

God, You are my God, and I will trust in your and not, be shaken,
Lord, of peace renew, a steadfast Spirit within me, to rest, in You alone.

Still, my soul be still, do not be moved, by lesser light and fleeting shadows,
Hold, onto His ways, with shield of faith, against temptations flaming arrows.


God, You are my God, and I will trust in your and not, be shaken.
Lord, of peace renew, a steadfast Spirit within me, to rest, in You alone.

Still, my soul be still, do not forsake, the Truth you learned in the beginning,
Wait, upon the Lord, and hope will rise, as stars appear when day is dimming.


God, You are my God, and I will trust in your and not, be shaken.
Lord, of peace renew, a steadfast Spirit within me, to rest, in You alone.

By Keith and Kristyn Getty