Well well well

I can not believe that I made it through this semester....GOD IS AMAZING! The Lord's provision and strength have never been more tangible in my life! It was hard to face it with such reality, but how sweet to be in the presence of God knowing there is no other way to live this life.

My future has been on my mind this semester a lot. Teach or full-time ministry...what do I choose??? At Life Options, Robert Hershey spoke about how we have the tendency to analyze to paralysis; meaning that we analyze each of our possible choices so much that we paralyze ourselves from making a decision. That we need to take that step of faith and trust God. Trust that he's big enough to take care of us and cover our mistakes. We need to have confidence in His love and wisdom, puting out trust in that and Him. God fixed Peter's mistake in the garden when he cut off the ear of a solder and redirected Jonah despite his deliberate disobedience...so no matter what I choose I need to do it, jumping with both feet, trusting that God IS! Crazy to think that no matter what I choose, He is there forming me into His servant.

Last night I had a wonderful conversation with my folks at dinner. Not often do we just sit at the table talking well after dinner, but tonight for some reason, well because God is cool like that, we sat for a good hour and a half. We talked a lot about my future and what I see myself doing this summer. The idea came up about how our youth group at home needs a lot of work. That the students here do not seem to know what it means to be living for Christ or have adults in the church that have the time to give to them to help cultivate relationships with them. What would my summer look like if I laid it down to the Lord to use me at home? I get so excited just thinking how the last 3 years have prepared me for this very thing. I have so many ideas running through my head and my heart races thinking of it all.

A few more quick updates: T minus 7 days I will be sitting on the floor in the hallway of the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis! WOHOOOOO for TCX! The Loritts men with be there and some other amazing speakers. Yeah for 1700 college students praising the Lord together!!!! And of course I will get to see a TON of NMBers!!!!
I am going to NYC with four high school friends. It is going to be a fun trip, but I need prayer for the Lord to be my focus when I am there. It will be a crazy busy time, but also some well needed time to spend loving on these women.
I'm going to Orlando, FL to help out with Fast Break (winter conference for Student Venture which is the high school ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ) January 11-17th. I get to lead a small group of senior high women and possibly a teaching session. Also I will get the opportunity to hang out with some sweet college students from all over and SV staff as well!

Please be praying for me....
*future plans----> this summer and whether teaching or full-time youth ministry fits better into the Lord's plan for me
*NYC---->safe travels, sharing with friends, my heart believing in truth and persevering through
*Orlando----> I would get a glimpse to what full-time ministry looks like, the Lord would use me in the women's lives
*Home----> the presence of reality continually, share with family and friends
TCX--->changed lives, deeper relationships with women on my campus, change in my life that I could never turn back from, the reality of who God is to resonate in each person's life there

Love you all dearly and wish that I had the time to sit with you each and share what God has been doing in my heart lately. But know that I want to hear from you, so send me an email at bellesinger15@yahoo.com to fill me in on what your life has been like lately. May you be deeply blessed by the Lord's amazing presence in your life today!