Number Five

I feel so blessed. God is showing Himself in my life every single day. He is providing for me in ways that I never expected! I decided, after talking with my parents and praying about it, to go on a mission trip to Baja, Mexico during spring break. I am excited for the opportunity and to see what I will learn about myself, God, and other people. This is the first mission trip I am going on that will be out of the country, so I am experiencing the process of getting a passport and preparing mentally for the first time. The money issue was stressing me out slightly, as the trip costs more than I could afford by myself. However, God provides, doesn't He? When He wants something to happen, it happens, doesn't it? I mean, He is only the Creator of the world! For this trip, God provided for me through family members. I sent out a letter to my family explaining what the trip is about and what I will be doing. I asked for prayer for the mission team and also for financial help, if they could and felt like God was calling them to help. I sent that email out only a few days ago... and I have already started receiving donations! How amazing. I was not expecting the generosity and love to come pouring in so soon. It makes me heart happy to know that not only does God provide but my family is allowing Him to work through them. I want all my family members who sent me donations to know that I love them! I appreciate them and I will not forget how you have helped me! The donations will go a long way and techincally will affect many other people. The donations allow me to go on the trip, which is designed to help other people. So, since if a=b and b=c then a=c.... my family members are helping out the community in Baja!
God provides in so many other ways as well. I don't think that I recognize Him and His work all the time. I am sure that there are times that I think "Oh, what a coincidence!" or times that I just expect things to work out perfectly when they are really God's work and His guidance in my life that causes good things to happen. My prayer for myself and everyone else is that we open our eyes and hearts to God and recognize Him. I pray that we give Him the credit and praise He deserves... who else could create the wind and the sunrise? The ocean and the sun and the birds' songs?

I have been feeling very crafty lately. I went home to Lee's Summit a couple weekends ago and decided to bring back the scarf I started knitting last winter for something new to do. I started working on it again and found that I still really enjoyed it! I like feeling like I am accomplishing something and seeing the scarf get longer and longer was so exciting for me. Then, our RA had a craft night in her room. She had scrapbook paper and other supplies for us to use to make room decorations or anything that we wanted. I was so happy that night. I was excited to be creating something other than a research paper or notes for class. After that night, I felt like the creativity bug had bit me. Me and some friends went to a scrapbook store in Bolivar and I bought some cute scrapbook paper and used it and newspaper to make some decorations for my dorm room. I had my dad mail me my art supplies from home. I am learning how to crochet and starting on another scarf. I just love being creative! It is relaxing and fun and stimulating all at the same time. It makes me feel carefree and child-like. Who knew that coloring a picture of Aladdin would be fun when I am 18 years old? I wouldn't have guessed that... but it's true! I think I like creating and doing these things because we are made to appreciate and crave beauty. I want pretty things in my room. I want things to be appealing to my eye. I think God created us this way. We are meant to notice the sun rise and the pretty color of the fall leaves. We are meant to notice them and thank God for allowing that beauty to remain in a world that we are still slowly destroying. It makes me wonder how He feels when He sees what we have done to the world. Because, honestly, if I walked into my room and saw that the things I had created were dirty and destroyed, I would be majorly ticked. All my hard work, wasted! I wonder if God feels the same way. I know He is much more forgiving than I am and has extended us grace... but I still don't want to disappoint Him. I want to appreciate the beauty He created! And there is beauty everywhere.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see and praise!

God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!
Genesis 1:31