As I remember...

This morning, I woke up, looked at my calendar, and tried to comprehend how it could possibly be the last day of 2012 already! This caused me to simply praise Him for what a wonderful year He has blessed me with. It just fascinates me that a year ago, I would never have imagined myself in the place that I am at. In fact, I said repeatedly that I could never go or do that which I am living currently. Oh,  how truly grateful I am that His ways are not our ways! I would have totally messed up my life by now if I was not completely yielded to Him! 

My year at a glance: 

• First and foremost, dedicated the year to Jesus in complete surrender
• Applied to Ellerslie Leadership Training to be a part of the Summer 2012 class and heard back shortly thereafter that I was accepted! 
• I got to attend the Cross Style Conference in early January
•  Continued to work at Blondie's Cookies up until middle May
• Applied to several different colleges, including Lipscomb, Campbellsville, Charleston Southern, Indiana Wesleyan, IU, and Bethel. 
• Spent Spring Break visiting the different colleges and finally made a decision a few weeks after
• Flew out to Colorado in early April for Hannah Day's beautiful wedding. It was such a blessing to stay at the Joy House and enjoy sweet times of fellowship and prayer with the girls!
• I graduated from  high school with an amazing senior class and then got to spend a week with them on our senior trip in Tennessee! 
• Probably the best summer of my life out in Colorado. He pressed me deeper, taught me what it truly meant to spend myself in intercession for others, and blessed me with some really close sisters that I still talk to. It's incredible to be able to just randomly text a dear sister and ask for prayer and know that she's wrestling! 
• I began college in late August at Campbellsville University. God had wonderful things planned last semester! The first two or so months were really spent just in the secret place, learning to spend myself upon my King and in prayer. He brought a wonderful ministry to my attention, in which a group of us go each week to pour into children who live in a low income neighborhood and have really devastating family situations. I also became involved in a prayer group that meets every night, the people of which I have made close friends with! 
• Early October, I had the amazing privilege of returning to Ellerslie for the Alumni Reunion. It was a much needed time of refreshment and being encouraged and edified by like minded people pressing hard after Jesus! Though my class had just graduated a few months ago, sharing battle stories with them was incredible. 
• I spent Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break at home, getting to quench (at least a little) my desire to bake that had been building for months! 
• And this Christmas Break has been an incredible time with Jesus, working at Blondie's again, and spending time with family and friends. 

He is so wonderful! I am so amazed at how faithful He has been! There are moments when I take a step back and really just am astonished at how perfect He orchestrates everything in my life. Though many things have been difficult and far from easy, He knows what He is doing. His plans and ways are so perfect. Oh, I never want to lay a finger upon my life or agenda-- it's all HIS, now and for eternity! 

And what is also amazing? I know that it can only get better! 

"Better is the end of the thing than the beginning thereof." Ecclesiastes 7: 8

"Oh, how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!" Psalm 31: 19

His strength or mine?

We, as Christians, are called to live an impossible life.

     Growing up, I guess I knew that my life was supposed to look as least somewhat different from those around me, but the impossible things that Jesus commanded, were passed off as “just do your best, and when you mess it up, it’s okay. He forgives you, and it’s not like you will ever actually live this life as a Christian well. That’s what grace is for.”  However, in the past couple of years, I’ve taken on a different perspective. According to Romans 6-8, my old Krista is dead with Christ. I no longer live. Instead, the very life of Jesus Christ Himself, along with the same power that raised Christ from the dead, dwells in me.

     Our lives are not to be ones of defeat. They are to be lives that represent His triumph, joy, and victory.

     So, what about this impossible life He calls us to?

     These past couple weeks have required a supernatural energy. Being a college student at the end of a semester is not easy; there are papers to write, exams to study for, schedules to make for next semester, etc. Though these can be straining, what really requires the grace of God is choosing, in the midst of tiredness from work and exams, to serve, spend, spill, pour out your life. The enemy has brought the bait a couple times:

“Don’t respond immediately when you know that someone needs help. Sit back, and pretend you don’t see.”

“It’s okay to get irritated with that person right now. You’re stressed and have a lot to do. They most certainly will understand later. After all, it’s just normal.”

“Just take this morning and sleep in. God understands that you need rest. You can spend time with Him in intercession and study later.”

“Use your free time for yourself. Don’t worry about those kids you know that need love and to be shown Jesus. You need some time this afternoon to relax—you’ve had a busy day.”

     When each of these has been presented, God has continually reminded me to rise up by His supernatural strength, and declare “NO!” My calling and purpose is to serve and spend myself for those around me. God will take care of how much rest I need. God will take care of how much sleep I get it. God will take care of how much time I need to finish that paper. God knows that I need to finish that test.

I have discovered in a whole new way what it truly means to trust God to supply the needed grace and strength for the day. When I have deliberately chosen to set my alarm in order to have sufficient time to spend with Him, even though it may mean significantly less sleep that I am told is “needed,” He always provides more than enough.

     I have learned in an even greater measure what little “strength” I have is…nonexistent. If I rely upon what I have, I will crumble under the weight of the high calling He has given me. For, this impossible Christian life requires constant vigilance, prayer, watchfulness, sobermindness, strength, endurance, fortitude, and immovability. However, when I rely fully upon His strength, I always, without fail, have more than enough for what is needed.

“Normal Christianity means never being ‘normal’ again.” Leslie Ludy

“Now unto HIM that is able (the dynamite power of God) to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (the dynamite power of God) that works in us.” Ephesians 3: 20