Before I dive into my life events of the past month or so, I want to share a really incredible thing God did and is doing.
This summer I worked for a camp that allowed me to go all over the country and share the gospel with students in middle school and high school. It was awesome. One day at a mission site, I started talking to a girl named Lauren who was openly not a believer. By God's grace I got to explicitly share the gospel with her.
Her response was interesting. She wasn't sure, didn't know, and the rest of that camp included more conversations that, on her end, were filled with pain and confusion.
Our whole team was on our knees begging for God to save her.
She walked away from that week still confused and still not believing the gospel. I was a little confused myself. I didn't understand why God wouldn't save her. She wanted it. She wanted it so badly and it just wasn't happening.
But we definitely created a bond and I was thankful for this new friendship with her. I hoped that the Lord would work a miracle in the days, weeks, or months to come.
We only had 3 camps left after that one. I couldn't get her off my mind, and I continued to beg God to save her.
When I got home I texted her to see how she was doing. The following few weeks entailed many long conversations over the phone full of answering questions, working through hard truths, etc.
Finally, by God's amazing grace, HE SAVED HER!!!
Praise be to God!
It has been a joy seeing the change in her life and it's incredible how different she is. The power of God to change people through the truth of the gospel is amazing.
By His grace God has used her new life in Christ to challenge me in my own walk with the Lord.
The reason that I am blogging about this now, however, is because she recently got baptized! I hate I couldn't be there, but I am so proud of her obedience and so thankful that God still saves and transforms wretched sinners for His glory.
Please join me in praying for Lauren, that the Lord would strengthen her and sanctify her. Pray that she, by His strength and grace, would persevere and many would come to know the Lord because of her life.
Okay here we go...
Hip hip hooray, it's finally fall! Yes, it's quickly disappearing into winter, but I am soaking it in as much as I can before it's gone. This time of year is my absolute favorite. Hands down.
In the beginning of October, the Crosspoint college ministry had Fall Getaway at Look Up Lodge.
It was a sweet location.
There are many reasons I love this retreat so much, but here are just a few:
1. The teaching rocks. Both last year and this year, Crosspoint brought in a professor from Southeastern Theological Seminary. This year we were blessed to sit under Dr. Chuck Lawless who really dug deep into the book of Mark. The blessings that come from Scripture are truly endless.
2. It is a time of forming new relationships and deepening the ones that already exist. I met SO many new people, mainly freshmen girls. And the freshmen girls I met were awesome. They love the Lord, are hilarious, and like to play spikeball. Those are my kind of people.
3. It takes place in the fall. It's beautiful outside, and it's a great time to get away from school. A weekend spent in the mountains during this time of year just does something good for the soul.
Here are some happenings from that weekend...
We played some interesting games.
I slept outside overnight in an eno for the first time and I was in good company.
Look Up Lodge has this sweet swing thing where you basically fly through the air.
And beautiful waterfalls. I will never get tired of seeing waterfalls.
We then walked around the lake to a prime hangout area where there is a field next to a covered area with a basketball court, pool tables, and a game called 9-square-in-the-air (it's the same concept as 4-square, but there are 9 squares and it's in the air, hence the name).
I played several games of spikeball, corn hole, knock out, and 9-square-in-the-air. The Clemson game came on around 3 o'clock. The afternoon was a fun time of hanging out, running around, cheering on the Tigers, and fellowshipping.
Overall a successful weekend I'd say.
Any blog during this time of the year will include something about Clemson football, since it's what consumes most of my Saturdays.
But I'm okay with that.
I'm thankful for the people that football games bring to Clemson.
Including this sweet friend!
This is Melanie.
We worked together this summer and I'm so thankful that our friendship has continued past those summer months. She was a mission site coordinator, which is what I also did. My time with her was so sweet. I'm glad she got to experience Clemson, and on homecoming weekend!
That whole weekend in general was awesome. It was a night game, so we had a full day of pre-game fun. Crosspoint had a huge and highly attended tailgate, we got to walk around and look at the floats on Bowman, and I got to wear my orange overalls, which always makes for a good game day.
I am so thankful for all of these people.
They are seriously a tangible form of grace in my life.
It wasn't a pretty game, nor was it well played, but the Tigers won!
Happy Homecoming!
Other random happenings...
Laura, Michaela, Kathleen, and I went to the dikes and watched the sunset over Lake Hartwell.
I am so thankful for the location of Clemson. I will never grow tired of the sunsets here. Or the lake. Or the mountains.
I am also thankful for these three girls and their love for the Lord.
"Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:11
Really exciting news...Min Young Kim got baptized! Man oh man do I love this girl. I am overjoyed at her obedience in getting baptized and her choice to become a member of the same local body that I am a part of! Life with her in Clemson has been really great, and I'm psyched about what God has in store.
I also took a quick trip home to go to Paul and Tiffany's wedding. Golly I love weddings.
When I was in high school, I was a waitress and worked alongside these two. I got pretty close to both of them, and was glad I could celebrate with them on their special day.
In addition to leading a small group, I also attend one on Monday nights. God has used this group to bless me in ways that I really wasn't expecting.
Sadly, in my sin, it has taken me awhile to warm up to the idea of this small group, but I'm thankful that God has put me in it.
Marie has over 30 beanies, so this is just a picture of us modeling some of those.
Speaking of unexpected blessings...
Every Tuesday and Thursday I have class with these two. I've been friends with Gracie and Kevin since 4th grade, but honestly haven't been close with them in awhile. It has been awesome getting to see them on a regular basis. My heart grows increasingly thankful for them as we catch up on life, reminisce on Student Life, and encourage each other in the gospel.
Halloween...
My family never really celebrated Halloween while I was growing up, so I kind of forgot about it/didn't really care.
But I spent Halloween doing one of my favorite things.
The view of Lake Jocassee from Jumping Off Rock has become one of my favorite places. Every once and awhile my friends and I will make the drive up there to catch a glimpse of glory. The leaves were in their prime and it was glorious indeed.
And I just really love these people.
Speaking of people I love...
Clemson finally had fall break. The break was extremely needed. We had been going to class since August without a single day off, and I for one was exhausted. Consequently I was so ready to go home. It was good to be back in Rock Hill with the Priddy family.
I mean look at my parents. They're awesome, not to mention adorable.
So is my kid brother, even though he won't smile for pictures and looks like he's twelve because of no-shave-November. It's nice to actually look like the older one for a change.
I actually spent the Sunday of my break in Columbia.
There is a church there that I've been wanting to attend and a sweet friend that I've been wanting to see. Nancy is also someone that I've been friends with since 4th grade, and along the same lines, it is seriously a gift from God that we've gotten to be close again. Especially since she goes to school a couple of hours away. It was really refreshing to catch up on her life.
After I left sweet Nancy, I went to Amelia's wedding shower. This girl is getting married in a little over a month. A MONTH! It's so crazy, but I couldn't be more excited for her and Justin.
It was good to see her and be a part of her shower, even though I feel way too young to be attending wedding showers for people my age.
For the last day of fall break, my family went hiking at Crowders Mountain. This isn't something that we do too often, or really at all, but hopefully it will become a new family activity.
It was a good day. A really good day. I'm thankful for the beautiful, color-changing trees, sweet conversation with my family, a great view, and exercise. Oh and my mom found a small pine cone that she carried around with her and kept calling it cute. These are funny people.
Thursday Kathleen, Emily, and I road tripped to Winston-Salem to watch Clemson play against Wake Forest in BB&T Stadium. The drive was gorgeous and filled with conversation that ranged from hilarious to edifying, with some T-Swift singing in between.
The wind at the game was brutal, and the playing wasn't top notch, but overall it was a great time and thankfully the tigers pulled out a win. I grew up going to Wake games in that itty bitty stadium, so it was a little like going home for me.
My grandparents live a few minutes away from the University and were gracious to let us spend the night with them. Since I've come to college I haven't gotten to see them as much, and it was so, so good to spend some time with them. They fed us a delicious breakfast and sent us on our way.
That night Crosspoint held a college evangelism equip night. It included pizza and some great teaching. It was a time of meditating on the gospel, it's importance, and ways to share it.
I'm also increasingly thankful for this church that is serious about equipping it's members in the mission of the Kingdom of God.
So that's what my fall has held thus far.
A lot of people have asked me about how things have been since my last post. I'd first like to say a huge thanks to the encouragement and positive feedback I've gotten. But to answer the question, though life still isn't the same, it has gotten a lot better. My heart and attitude towards the situation first had to change and improve, and by God's grace it did. And is. I hope this is a lesson that God reminds me of often, since life will almost always look different from year to year.
Reading back over these things, the reoccurring word in my mind is "thankful." I have so much to be thankful for, and that thanksgiving starts at the cross. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the reason I'm alive, really. It's the reason I can enjoy these things in the midst of sin and strife, both within and around me.
There are things I want in this life.
Good grades. A husband. Kids. Deep friendships. Salvation of lost friends.
I feel like they're pretty normal things to want. It's scary to think that some of those things may or may not happen. It's easy to become uneasy and anxious about it.
Even a few hours ago, as I was driving home from lunch with friends, I was mulling over how some of them will leave Clemson soon, and wondered what was going to happen with some of those relationships. The things that I want at my core may not happen.
That scares me.
But then, I looked around and saw beautiful trees made by a holy and glorious God Who is totally in control, Who is good, and Who can be trusted. I have to look to Him, I have to trust in Him, or else I really won't make it.
Praise Him that He can be trusted.
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation."
Isaiah 12:2
