mentoring

have you ever done something and at first you were psyched cuz you were sure you'd be awesome at it, and then you're in the middle of it and you realize that you stink at whatever it is? well, i've totallly felt that way this past year... completley and utterly incompetent. i started mentoring two boys at a local school in january, and i was soo excited. but then, i started realizing that i'm not as smart as i think i am and i would get so frustrated with myself because i couldn't think of ways to explain words and questions in easier terms, or there was one time i "helped" my boy miss every question on a computer quiz!! ugh! but as the year has gone by, i think i've learned a lot. i've learned that it isn't important how much you know, but how much you give. the boys didn't care that i don't know all the answers, they just care that i'm there. as the year went on and it got harder and harder, i kept pushing, and today, as my last day of mentoring, was so rewarding. i really feel like i made a difference, not a big one, but one that tells those boys that someone cares about them. i'm glad that i stuck with 2 corinthians 8:11-12, my theme verses for olivet... let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equalled by your realistic action now. if you are really eager to give of yourself, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't. i wish mentoring wasn't over... i love those boys, it was an awesome semester with them! thanks, prof laraue for this opprotunity.

i love my family

my family got to come for the concert... this is a picture of me and jonathan. i miss them sooo much!!! :)

proclamation gospel choir concert

the following are pictures from the gospel choir concert on saturday night. if you missed it, the dvd should be out soon... let me know and i'll make sure you get a copy or get to watch.

what a God we serve!

My God is so GOOD so strong and so mighty, there's NOTHING my God cannot do!!!

oh my word! i want to cry, God is SO good! the gospel choir concert was so amazing last night, and my family came to see it, and it was just really neat how God was "present in the atmosphere". this morning, my room mate rachel and i got up super early so that we could take mom and dad, caleb and anna to willowcreek community church and then go to chicago and eat at giordano's for lunch. it was so exciting! well, we left about 7:30 and drove about 15-20 minutes, and the van broke down on the interstate about a half mile away from a shell station. crazy huh? it was rather funny, like about every 15 minutes, the van would start and drive about 10 feet and then die again. :) we finally got to the exit ramp, and my mom was trying to get a tow truck, but couldn't get anything for 48 hours! lol. when we got to the ramp, dad walked to the station and we all hung out in the van for a bit. dad called a while later and mom started the van and it actually made it this time, all the way to the shell parking lot. since it was sunday, there were no garages around open, so this incredibly kind man gave our family back to kankakee where i had my car. crazy! by that time we had missed church, but we met up with the klines, who hadn't left for lima yet. we ate lunch at baker's square *yum!* and then keith and jana took mom, caleb and anna home... how kewl is that that our friends were here and could take them home and we didn't have to like rent a car or buy a bus or whatnot! God is defintiley jehovah jirah... our provider!! but just wait, it gets better!!! :) :) :)
so dad decided to stay here and he plans on getting the van fixed or whatever tomorrow morning. they had already checked out of their hotel, but i thought that maybe we could find him a room on campus like with guest/president housing or something, so we came back to olivet before trying to get a hotel. well, rach and i called all over for a while, and there's actually a guest room in my dorm in the lobby area and it had been used last night, but was open this morning... the rate is usually 20 dollars a night, but get this!!! since the room was dirty, they said if we cleaned it that we could have it for free... talk about awesome!!! God got my dad a free room!! and actually, as i speak, he's out taking a nap!! how kewl is that?!?!? i am so excited and overwhelmed i could cry... God is SOO good! and i KNOW that he is going to provide for us and work this whole van thing out!! so good!
i went in the bathroom, and we have verses like on the walls and stuff and these two stuck out to me today, and i just want to praise Jesus for his awesomeness and share these with you. be blessed today, pray for our van, and rejoice because God is providing even when we can't see it and are distracted by our own plans, and he is working everything out... not just for me and my family, but for you and yours! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!

2 Corinthians 15:2
The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you!

Isaiah 30:18
The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.

Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised!

Job 1:21

no turning back!

my friend drew sent me this speech, and it is so awesome, i want to share it with you all. i hope that it will become your speech as i have made it mine as well. let's step across the line and never back down or turn back!

The Purpose Driven Movement Vision
(The Angel Stadium Declaration - April 17, 2005)
By Rick Warren

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering, I've made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me," character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!"

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

joel and lindsey

i am SOOO excited!!!!!!!!!! joel asked lindsey to marry him!! i knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, but i'm SO excited it was sooner!!! she emailed me all the details today, i guess they went on a date sunday night and then he brought her back to HER house where he had the basement decked out and a picture show and ice cream and candles, and he asked her to marry him!!! they're getting married in october or november... i am so excited i could explode!!! congratulations, joel and lindsey!! i love you guys so much!!! lindsey emailed me this verse, and i thought it was really neat, because she is SO excited, and it just reflects who she is in Christ and how he fills us with joy if we are full of him! :) be blessed!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

roomies

guess what!?! we got an apartment!!! WHOO WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! meet my new room mates (+ an old one!) this is allison, amanda, rachel and me!! and we're in grand!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!

proclamation gospel choir tour

so this past weekend was probably one of the greatest weekends in my life! this is a picture of most of the gospel choir at lunch on sunday after our last sevice. it was so amazing!

this is friday night at a spanish church. so awesome. God is so good. :)

choir tour

on friday night we sang in chicago at a spanish church. it blew me away! it is so neat to realize that no matter the language or style of the service, God is the same! it was so neat to worship him in both english and spanish. "Quiero mas de Cristo"

on saturday, we went to plymouth, michigan and sang at a white church. that was really neat. we had so much fun hanging out!

then on sunday morning, we were in detroit, michigan at a black church. that was the most amazing service i have ever been a part of. hallelujah! :)

dude, if you aren't already, plan on coming saturday night to college church for our concert...(scroll down for more info)

God will move in your life and you will be changed!

flowers

so i saw tons more flowers today than the ones i posted earlier... i hope you like them, i LOVE the warmth and the sunshine!!! :)

gospel choir

Saturday, April 23rd

7:00 pm

College Church of the Nazarene

Bourbonnais, Illinois

2nd Annual Gospel Choir Concert

oh my word everybody... first of all, this is the gospel choir. sorry the pictures aren't that great. they don't do us justice! second of all, we are going on tour this weekend... friday night chicago, saturday night plymouth, michigan and sunday morning detroit, michigan. i am SOO excited! third of all, next weekend is going to be AMAZING and i would highly recommend that anyone reading this try and make it on up here... God is going to be lifted up in an incredible way, and I can not wait to see how He moves in our midst through our voices. go gospel choir!! :)

cheese curds

Yummmmmmmmm!

ha ha... my room mate's crazy... she put this here. one of her favorites. lol :)
check out her blog at http://rachellen23.blogspot.com

God is SO Faithful!

sorry guys, no special pictures tonight or whatever... but look tomorrow for a GOSPEL CHOIR post. you all need to check the choir out. God is working in and through us and we are on fire for Him as we do His work. so keep your eyes (and ears) open for us. :)

can i just give a little testimony? these past couple of weeks have been rather difficult for me. i was expecting to land a job in kansas this summer as a counselor for high school girls, and i have been planning to go to Honduras on a mission trip the last week of may since fall break. i found out over spring break that i didn't get the job because orientation week for the camp is the same as my mission trip, and their policy is that they can't hire those that can't make it for orientation. i'm sure you all know what it feels like to not have a job and i have definitley felt that frustration these past weeks. i know that God has called me to go to Honduras and he has something special for me there, but man, sometimes i just want to fight him. i try to work my life out and then he up and switches it on me and it's hard to give in and let go sometimes. so i've been struggling with that. i haven't found a job and about the same time i found out about camp, it was my last week at work here on campus, so that was an issue in the back of my mind. monday was the day i finally let go... i mean, yeah, i'm still looking and still struggling and maybe still fighting a little bit, but God proved himself to me on tuesday. has anybody ever gotten money anonymously in their mailbox? dude! so like totally, there's money in my mailbox! i just want to cry!!! God is so good! it was like God was saying, kara joy, why can't you just trust me? i've got you. i see your summer and i know best how you can serve me and i want you to have a great summer. i am going to provide for you so that you have enough. you just gotta stop worrying, be obedient and trust me. let me have it. i'm big enough. and even more, it felt good to know that he really does know what i'm feeling inside, and what i'm afraid of... and he's right there, all i gotta do is turn to him.
maybe right now as you read this you're struggling with something too. maybe it's a relationship, or money, or parents, a job or school or any other thing... i want to encourage you to let go of it. stop trying to do it your way, because God's way is SOOO much better! it says in romans: the one who lives to please the Spirit ends up doing things that please God, and it says in psalms it says something like: do the things that are pleasing to the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. dude... God knows what you like and what you don't like. he knows right where you're at. and he wants to fulfill your dreams and desires... so if you follow Him, you will find yourself having the time of your life because you will find yourself doing things that please God and things that please God lead to true happiness/joy in Him.

spring time

i HATE birds! ok, so anyways, i was walking the other day and got attacked by this same stupid bird, not once... not twice, but THREE times! yes, that's right... three times! anyone have any termination ideas? if only i had a sling shot or b-b gun, ooh i'd take that thing out. i watch it from the window in my room. i have seen it attack more than one person, and tonight, these pictures are proof. hideous creature... your days are numbered! beware!!! o ye flying one!

i can not BELIEVE how much it rains when it rains here. in ohio, rainy days are usually mild and you can walk in them and not be drenched... this is like a wicked mixture of cold wet and wind and if you walk even with an umbrella, in less than two minutes the whole front of your jeans are SOAKED!!!! so today it rained all day. blek. i babysat this morning, and on my way back in, i was grumbling about the rain and all of a sudden, the bottom right picture caught my eye... that grass was brown yesterday! it is SOO beautiful today! i felt so inspired, i went out.. in the rain (doesn't look so rainy in the pics, huh?) but i went out with my camera and shot pictures of the beauty amidst the rainy pain. isn't God gorgeous?

april showers bring may flowers

friends!

i was talking to my momma today and she told me that i needed more pictures on my blog... of all of my friends! so i've taken her advice and this (these) blogs are dedicated to you guys. thanks for being in my life... i love you all more than the ocean... and i would TOTALLY give each and every one of you a HUGE hug right now if i could! be blessed today!

this is at whitney's surprise birthday party the other day... dude, it was SO much fun! we all piled in her room and she unlocked the door and about fell open as we all jumped out and yelled at her! it was great fun. shout out to you, whit! you rock girlfriend!

this is allison, carolyn and i being crazy.

now HERE is the TRUE maker of the cake that i took all the credit for! i love you kristy! you are beautiful!!

awe! look! it's us room mates!!! rachel is sooo amazing! i am so grateful that God decided to give her to me, i couldn't have asked for better!

katie, katie, katie... you are such a dearheart! i'm so glad we're friends! i think u and me are gonna be great social workers someday!

ha ha ha... before the haircut with my other (future) room mates... allison in the lovely hat and amanda eating the lovely hair! how fun next year will be!

i never in a million years would have dreamed that i would ever have the opportunity to go to school with amy and dude! look!! we're both here!!! i love you amy more than the ocean!! i'm so glad we're both here and have hung out and sung together. you rock my socks!

kelley, kelley KELLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my cow girl!! where are you!?! i miss you SOOO much!!! i am SOO glad you came here last semester, you are such an awesome friend! we are so hanging out this summer... but in the meantime, sometimes i think i could curl up and die without my kelley.

wanna laugh?

anybody out there wanna experience a good funny? check out this website, and don't laugh too hard... but i'll be laughing at you in 20 minutes when you're still listening and dancing along. :)

http://www.walkinghorselanes.com/myhero.htm

this is my home group