Back to School Peptalk

{Photo by cfisherphotography. Also found on PicMonkey, my new favorite online toy}

I survived my first week of school.

{cue Hallelujah chorus}

Okay, maybe I'm being a bit overdramatic. My first week of school was actually quite fabulous! I'm anticipating a tough, tiring, "I want to pull my hair out", but also an interesting, fun, and even "I think I like being a college student" semester. #truth

Highlights:
~ My Psychology teacher spent the fist class talking about his vacation.
~ In Public Speaking, our teacher told the class she loves controversy. And even encourages it.
~ Our first assignment in Political Science was to talk about someone famous we want to meet. (Ms. Audrey Hepburn, duh!)
~ I saw a dead body. Up close. YOU GUYS IT WAS SO COOL. It was.

This shall be a good year.

About a week before school began, part of me wanted to get stressed out and overwhelmed. I need what for this class? Our first test is in two weeks? How does this online class work? I still have to be in a boot at school? Do I really have a late night class two days a week? AM I EVEN GOING TO SURVIVE? 

Oh, come on. You know you do the same thing.

So I just started praying. I prayed a lot. I prayed for favor, for strength, for tenacity, against laziness, against sickness, against stress and anxiety. Even though I barely have any homework yet and I still have the first week high (for example: Yay! I'm going to go ready my book for fun! Doesn't last. I'm sorry, it just doesn't), I feel at peace about this load of work. It's going to be good. I think I can even say that I'm excited. Yippe!

So just remember:

The Lord never gives you more than you can handle. Trust Him with everything, even school stress, and He will give you peace. You can do this, in the name of Jesus!

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
{Philippians 4:6-7, NLT}

OH!

Another big thing.

Your school is your mission field.

Before the semester begins, I usually start praying for divine appointments and good opportunities to either show my faith or verbally share it. True confession, I kind of forgot this time. Not good. Whether your school is a public middle school or a private Christian college, your school is your mission field. Be bold. There are a lot of hurting people on your campus who NEED Jesus. Be the light. Be different. Don't let those teachers or students beat you up about what you believe. Stand firm in the faith. Fight the good fight. Share Jesus. They NEED Him.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
{Matthew 5:16, KJV}

"Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach what you shall say."
{Exodus 4:12, NKJV}

"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town."
{Matthew 10:14, ESV}

Work hard. Do well. Pray always. Show Jesus. Share Him. Be encouraged. HAVE FUN.

I hope you enjoyed my peptalk. ;) Have an amazing semester/year!

Attitude Matters

Hey y'all!

In case you hadn't already noticed, I gave the blog a makeover! Yahoo! I'm still in the process of ironing things out and trying to make everything look as pretty as possible, so bear with me. But, I hope you enjoy the new look. ;)

As most of you probably know, a couple weeks ago I fell during rehearsal as I was dancing, more specifically jumping, and broke my fifth metatarsal and sprained my ankle. I know...yikes! When the incident first occurred, I thought to myself, "Oh well. I hurt my foot. Big deal. Happens all the time. The doc said I'd be as good as new in a week." Later on, I came to find out that it was not getting better. I continued to crutch around everywhere and hop back and forth. We decided to take another trip to the doctor and they said, "Surprise! It's broken." Woops. They didn't catch that the first time around. I am sentenced to wear a boot for four weeks, praying it will soon heal. Oh, fun times.

What I thought was not going to be a big deal at all turned into a pain in the rump. I can't drive, because it's my right foot, so that causes some issues. Walking is possible, but it hurts sometimes. And I can't even really fully walk correctly yet. A trip to Target is a doozy. Bottom line, having a broken foot is NO FUN. I'm sorry. It's just not.

So guess what I'm learning right now: attitude matters. 

Sigh.

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky." 
{Philippians 2:14-15, NIV}

(covers ears) LALALALALA.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."
{Philippians 2:5, NLT}

...ouch.

In those moments when the Holy Spirit catches me with a lot of frustration and a bad attitude, I take a second to pray and ask the Lord for a new attitude. Let's try again. Alright...die, flesh, die. I have the mind of Christ and I am to have His attitude as well. Help me, Lord.

A Christ-like attitude is something I have to work on. Especially under these circumstances. I'll surely mess up, but I can try again. A good attitude sets a good example and we are to glorify the Lord at all times, even when it's hard.

So I encourage you all to have a good attitude today! Maybe you just started school and you're already moaning and groaning all day. Perhaps you're injured too! Or maybe there's something else going on! Whatever it is, remember to have the same attitude as Jesus.

Feel free to Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pin this verse everywhere. Share the encouragement!

And just for kicks...

I know. I'm cool.

Love you all!