So much to do....

Well, this week is going to be rough! I have already been very busy and it's only the end of Monday! Oh well...I know I'll get through it. I have to really rely on God this week to guide me in studying for my tests (a final in University seminar and a test in Chemistry).

I wanted to share a little about my weekend...it was busy as well but very fun indeed. On Friday, I went to Springfield after classes were over with my friends I met in English, Katie and Jae. Jae is from S Korea and has only lived in the states for a little over 2 years. We like to joke about being Asian. Our goal when we went to Springfield was to find some good sushi....Unfortunately one of the places that was recommended to us was too expensive for us college kids and the other place was apparently invisible because we didn't find it. Actually, we just gave up on looking for it and settled for a Chinese Buffet with Mongolian bbq. It was not the best place ever, but definitely satisfying enough for our hunger. On Saturday, I was at a retreat for being a D-Now leader here at SBU...it was good but I definitely had a few issues that I'd rather not elaborate on at the moment. Sunday, I went to Springhill Baptist Church with my roommate and my friend Lindsay. I most definitely enjoyed everything about it and am thinking that it is where I'll more than likely start regularly attending. Again, more details on that later.

Overall, life is pretty good in spite of all the craziness I always seem to have. It's okay though...life is still a blessing no matter what.

~Love and Peace~

Katlyn

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers

So I'm on the University Activities Council at my school in the Committee called Integration of Faith and Cultures....we like to show films, have speakers, and bands perform to really work on integrating our faith to the culture of society today. Well tonight, here at SBU, we got to watch a new unreleased film, "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers", and had the privilege of Dan Merchant, writer and producer of the film to speak with us. I even got to work the merchandise table and speak with him for awhile. He's a great guy.

Dan Merchant goes on a 3-year trip around the world revealing what Christians are like, how non-believers view Christians, and how Christians represent themselves through interviews, statistics, and more. So basically the movie will be a big smack-in-the-face to many Christians who really don't get how to reach out to society today and think that they are fine living in their bubbles and being judgemental to the rest of the world. The film shows how Christians are the reason people aren't being led to Christ....not Jesus. I was shocked to see when Dan interviewed non-believers on the street asking them to describe Jesus and they used words like "Love" and "Saved the World" or "Forgiven". I personally enjoyed every minute because this is what I have been trying to speak out and this film put it into action. It explores so many ways of our culture today and how it takes so much an effect on Christians. Wow I just loved all of the shocking statistics and seeing how the world views Christians.

The film is not out yet in theaters....Dan is just touring to promote the film right now. So when it comes out...go see it and be prepared to be challenged. Here's a video clip from the movie of Dan as the "Bumper-sticker man" interviewing people on the street...check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmFHVkMud7k

or visit the website http://lordsaveusthemovie.com/home.html

So....my life lately

I'm so awake right now (12:00 am) it's not even funny. I went to Java Station, our coffee shop hangout here in BOMO and sat there for over 2 hours with my $0.94 bottomless cup for coffee that I definitely took advantage of because I drank 4 cups. By the way, the cups there are ginormous!

Anyway, it's been quite the week! I've been studying like crazy for my biology exam Friday. I pray that all the studying pays off because I really need a good grade on this one! I'm definitely determined. The workload just keeps getting heavier...like I had a quiz today in comp and a paper due in that class Friday. I'm definitely starting to really learn my study skills and how I learn best. I also feel so old and grown up because I'm doing all of this on my own without parental or teacher reinforcement. Today also was the starting process of figuring out my schedule for next semester. I can't believe it's already time for that because I feel like I'm just getting used to my schedule for this semester!

Another thing I got to do this week was train to be a volunteer substitute receptionist for a Christian pregnancy resource center called Alpha House. It is a great place where women (and men too) can come for mentoring in duration of pregnancy, post-abortion, education on pregnancy and abortion....and it's all for free. Alpha House, like me, is definitely against abortion no matter what the circumstance, so they strongly encourage women to re-think their plans if they consider abortion, but do not enforce it because they want to help.

So I believe that I have made my decision in regards to my major. After much prayer over the last couple weeks and a discussion with my parents and a few other close friends, I have made the decision to be the Intercultural Studies and Nursing major. It is a 5 year program that I will receive my A.S.N. and B.A. in ICS. My last semester will be 6 months studying abroad...which was one part of the major that I was really nervous about to begin with because it's a little scary to me. But I came to the conclusion that God will protect me and guide me through everything, no matter how tough it gets and how much I actually dread the 5 years. I think it'll be a great experience and it will be wonderful to allow God to let me minister with the knowledge I will gain in ICS. So I'm super excited to see the journey God leads me in the next 5 years. Also, after my ICS degree is complete, I will more than likely work on my B.S.N. for nursing since I will only have like 35 more hours to complete. So please keep that in your prayers!

Here is a memory verse I thought was definitely appropriate from my bible study I'm doing "A Call To Die" by David Nasser.
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

Oh, I also have been praying heavily for a lot of other things lately. Here are a couple that I hope you will take time to lift up as well.

• My good friend just left yesterday morning to do a 2-year journeymen program through the International Mission Board overseas. It was definitely rough knowing that last Sunday was the last time I'd get to see him for 2 years, but I'm definitely proud of him and he's been like a big brother and a huge inspiration to me since I was probably 13 or 14 years old!
• Our nation and the upcoming election. Need I say more? It is definitely a pivotal time right now and important that the body of Christ come together in prayer for what will be an election that goes down in history. There is what in my opinion, too many people who have strayed so far from what this country was founded upon as far as beliefs and standards go. I'm definitely preaching to myself when I say this, but as my friend said in his blog; please become informed on this election, especially for candidates running for office.

I hope that you will lift these up in prayer. God Bless

Because of His Grace,

Katlyn

Homecoming Week

In the midst of the two tons of homework and tests I've had this week, it is also Homecoming week here at SBU and I'm trying to enjoy what I can. On Tuesday night, Sean Michel(he was on American Idol and has a really long beard!) and the band Scratch Track came to perform. They were both great, but I really loved Scratch Track. Check them out if you've never heard them before.

Today we had spirit chapel. Basically, all the dorms represent their pride in chapel and each share a cheer/chant and some type of dance or skit. My dorm, Leslie won 3rd place! Ours was a dance to the tune of "Ice Ice Baby" but re-worded with "Leslie Ladies". Haha it was a riot and also very well done. Our cheer was hilarious...it ended with us sitting down and repeating "We can get real clean without standing up, without standing up"---if you don't know, our dorms are the only girl dorms on campus with bathtubs. :D ha it cracked me up!

<--Tonight was definitely very interesting. I went with a friend to see the "Brawl behind the hall". It's just a bunch of brawls between guys at the Maupin dorm on campus. I definitely freaked out a little because I was paranoid that someone would get seriously hurt. But no one did, so it's all good.

Well that's my week so far. One more test left this week then none till next Friday! Yippee!

God Bless!

craazzzaay!

So....it's like 1:00 a.m. and I can't sleep...hmm I think it's the free coffee I got from McDonalds(they're giving SBU students free coffee all week!) Haha anyway, I really should be sleeping considering I have my Biology lab test at 10:30.

Earlier today my mom calls me and leaves me a voicemail saying "call me so I can tell you what I did" ha so that gave me an immediate "uh oh" thought. It turns out that she got a cat! It's a black and white cat. I really wish I could be home to meet him. He is exactly what we'd been searching for if we decided we'd ever get another cat. I mean, our cat Tiger is like the boss of the house so we were a little worried about even considering getting him a friend. Anyway, I think my suggestion of the name "Dwight" fits very well even though I haven't officially met the new addition to our family of pets (it's turning into a zoo haha). I hope I get to see him soon and that everything works out with adjusting to the house (apparently it's Tiger who is having a hard time accepting him tho...he's selfish!)

Moving on...I pray that I can do well on this test and my other 2 tests this week. Lord knows I need the good grades on them. Also, I am really looking forward to all the Homecoming stuff this week so I hope that I will be able to balance my studying time and fun time too!

Until next time...

Katlyn

Doing My Best

So....today I went to church with my friend Angel in Springfield, got to see my friend Grant who is leaving for East Asia for a 2 year Journey Man trip a week from Tuesday, and also got into a fender bender with Angel coming back into BOMO(I wasn't driving and everything is fine). So it was quite a day to say the very least. I'm writing this now in procrastination of my chemistry homework...shh don't tell. haha

God has really humbled me a lot in this last week. I have beat up by Him, then swept up by His grace. Ha it's truly amazing how God works. God has been teaching me and telling me that all I have to do is follow Him...it's going to be rough and confusing at times...but the reward will be great in the end. It's not like I did not really know/understand this before, but I really think I need to continue to just lay down my life and surrender fully to Him. I cannot do anything, not one tiny thing on my own. I guess I've been ignoring Him some just because I just keep being brought right back. This time, I pray that I can truly die to myself and take up my cross daily.

As for my decision on my major...it is still undefined. I am still doing some reasearch on the Intercultural Studies major and some hardcore praying in the process. I have until the end of October to make my decision...so please keep me in your prayers.

I will be going into quite a busy week starting tomorrow...it's homecoming week which should be fun since it's my first on in college, but I have to keep balance with my studies because I have 3 tests this week!

It's All By Faith.

In Christ,
Katlyn

Wake Up

I woke up this morning, and I knew God was already tearing at my heart. I did not really know what He was saying to me, so I opened my Bible not knowing where to even start. My music was playing Christian music on my laptop, and before I could even look at anything, a song by MercyMe called "Keep Singing" came on. It's such a simple song that just says I got to keep praising Him no matter what. Immediately, I knew that God was speaking to me and telling me that I shouldn't worry so much about my future and everything that I've been frusterated with. I was overwhelmed by His prescence and grace to a point where I felt tears form.

I guess I'm really thankful for the gift of music. It is such a blessing to hear words that hit so close to home. Another song that came shortly after the MercyMe song was a song by my friend Kaleb that also really speaks to my heart called "Even Here". It seems so relevant. Here are some of the words to the the song. (if you read this Kaleb...hope it's okay I put them in my blog)

"Finding my way in the night. Every step gets harder and the voices they fill me with fright as I try to progress farther and just when I think I'll never make it through the valley before me.
That's when by Grace and through Faith I begin to see the morning.

As the sun is rising, your mercy is falling on me. As I stand in the glow of its radiance I remember the light of your presence on me. Even here in the death shadowed valley.

You know each step of the way. You have gone before me And the darkness to you is like day, you are here even when I can't see.

Even here...you are with me...even here I can sing."

So I am still praying about my decision to officially be an Intercultural Studies/Nursing major....but I have faith that God will lead me to do what I'm supposed to do.

Mixed Feelings

First of all...I'm really sleepy right now and am very much considering taking a nap and further procrastinating my Chemistry scatter plot lab due tomorrow. Haha anyway...though I know that the Lord has given me a heart to do missions , I find myself really questioning whether I do the intercultural studies/nursing major here at SBU. I have really praying about my decision of whether I want to actually change it or not. I know that God will provide for me no matter what, so I just pray that he guides me in the right direction.