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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

It's the process...

I'll start this post with lyrics from one of my favorite songs right now...

No mountain, no valley, no gain or loss we know
could keep us from Your love
No sickness, no secret, no chain is strong enough
to keep us from Your love
to keep us from Your love

How high, how wide
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong,
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands

Our present, our future, our past is in Your hands
We're covered by Your blood
We're covered by Your blood

-Healing Is In Your Hands (Christy Nockels)

Now that school has officially begun I have found it is so easy to get in a routine and stuck in the same routine that I have grown so comfortable in since beginning at Troy. That is exactly why I have decided to do the opposite, and make no plans and let go of "believing" I am in control. I am such a planner, need to know what's going on, but lately not only has the Lord shaken that concept up but has made it to where my plans have not happened. When this first happened I become frustrated, but then became thankful, let me explain. This summer I had the opportunity to serve at Bayside Church in Sacramento California where I learned comfort is not a place the Lord calls us to, in fact where in the bible did God choose to use people who were comfortable? You won't find it because he chose to use not only the weak to lead the strong, but those who were willing to abandon there comfort zone and trust in the Lord with everything they had.

After arriving back in Alabama many people have asked what is one of the biggest thing you learned this summer and I say this: I learned I had become so comfortable in my life/settings/friends/etc that I had completely taken the Lord out of being in control. Life had become such a routine, that I was not only missing out on the joys of life but I wasn't experiencing the freedom that we have in Christ. Freedom to not worry about the little things, but to trust God in and with EVERYTHING! Seems like a basic concept right, so how did I miss it?
I let so many "good" things fill my life, serving in this ministry, helping out with this, and so on, that although they were good things, I was missing it!

Lie:If I can stay in control (If I am strong), then I will be safe.

*Truth: True strength and safety come through surrender.
(Psalm 62:6-8)

All this to say, I have realized how easy it is to slip right back in to the very thing the Lord broke me free from this summer, so what can i do? Cling more to his word now more than ever! After all, we may struggle with the same thing time and time again, but if we are truly giving it to the Lord, a pattern often occurs. Each time the realization of the pattern shortens and eventually, we break free. This isn't always the case, there are times when it is instantaneously; however, I often find its the process that makes it worthwhile. Its in our state of desperation and our times of crying out to him that He shows us in his own sweet way He is there and has been all along. He is there to comfort us, hold us, and even cry with us as he patiently waits for us to realize our strong need for him!

Take this time to ask what process the Lord is trying to take you through right now. What does he want to heal you from today? What are your struggles/desires you just can't seem to let go of? I encourage you to let go and let God take it. It may take time, it may not, but let him love on you as he wants nothing more than for you to cling to him.
He cares for us more than we can ever imagine. What an incredible God!
-Han

Friday, August 20, 2010

Birthday Weekend!!

This past week I celebrated my 21st birthday! Such a fun weekend to post about...To begin, it was such a fun Weekend/Monday! I was so excited to go home after an amazing kickoff service for Momentum last sunday afternoon and enjoy a bday dinner at Maw Maws. Such a wonderful dinner joined with family time, and of course...Red Velvet Cake! I am so blessed to be part of such a wonderful family, It was so great to be home. After Dinner at Maws Maws on Sunday, I spent the night at home, and woke up to breakfast in bed...How much better could it get?! Just wait...
Dad was so sweet to get up extra early for me, and then leave for prayer! He reminded me, "You may be 21, but you will always be my little girl!" I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Best Breakfast Ever! Boy have times changed, a few years ago this would have been 3 :( Krispy Kreme Doughnuts...haha, now this is my favorite! Mom knows me so well!
Homemade Red Velvet!!
Maw Maw and I! Thank you for such a special night! I love you
Mom and I...The Woman that has shaped me into who I am! I love you!
(Not to mention, can you believe she's old enough to have a 26 year old, and a 21 year old?)

After going back to Troy, my friends had some people over to celebrate my birthday!

Becky and I!
Janie and I! (Roomies since Freshman year!)


Sweetest Surprise...When I got home from class on monday, some of the girls had decorated my room! :)
I LOVED IT!!

We had Chapter Monday night, so we carried out the bday celebration and went to Yanni's on Tuesday night to celebrate! Several of my friends were able to come! Thank you all so much for such a special night!


Tia and I!
I can't believe I'm 21! (It really feels old!)
Caroline, me and Janie after class. Love these girls so much!
To sum it up all in one sentence. I AM BLESSED! The Lord has not only blessed me with such an amazing family, but has brought the most incredible young men and women that I have grown to love more and more over the last few years. Although 21 seems old, I know there is so many exciting things ahead. The "Big" Birthdays may have come to an end, but the next phases of life hold there own stages of excitement as well! Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so special. It was a weekend I will never forget!

Love Han

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Chi-O Bid Day!

Three years ago, I came to Troy, went through Sorority Recruitment and pledged the best sorority! Now, as I am about to start my Junior year, it's time to welcome in our 2010 Pledge class! Crazy how fast time flies, it seems like just yesterday I had just become a baby hoot! As great as it was, I have enjoyed every minute of my college experience, and am looking forward to what lies in store for this next year!

Here is my pledge class on Bid Day 2008...





And now three years later...



During Recruitment week I met some of the most amazing girls and without even realizing it, we all went Chi-O! God is so good to have blessed me with these girls...I love them so much!

Here we are freshman year...



C5 still going strong!! (Steph, Meg, Me, Janie, and Lisa)

Me and Steph!
Brianna, Janie, and Me as we waited for the Bid List!!

Tay, Mad, Me, and Jamie on Pref!

Welcoming the new girls!

Running to the House!!
Katelyn! A new Baby Hoot!



As the week came to an end, we welcomed in 38 new and beautiful baby hoots!! As long and tiring as the week was...These girls made it worth every minute!


Welcome to the nest girls!!


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Summer Nights!!

To begin to explain all the Lord has done in my life this summer would take weeks, but hopefully through keeping up with the blog you have a pretty good idea of how incredible this summer has been! To put into words...This summer has made this the most amazing two months of my life!

Atleast once a week, if not more, we always had a fire at someones house where we made smores! SO good, I could go for one right now! However, a fire in Alabama just sounds miserable right now
I had told the guys about a southern tradition...Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake, and after even just mentioning it, they were all very eager to try it, so I promised to make one before I left...Needless to say they held me to it...

Finishing product...It was so good!!


My last night in Cali I had some people over before leaving the next day! They definitely made it a night to forever remember, from cake, to jokes and laughter, to smores, and going around and sharing a fun memory we had, it was a wonderful night and one I will never forget!

The most amazing group of friends that I had the joy of getting to know all summer!
(Danny, Vlad, Will, Me, Corbin, Chase, Elivira, Ilona, and David)
I already miss you guys!!

Sadly, July 27th came way to soon, and it was time to head home...



However, it was so sweet/surprising to get off the plane to this...I guess they were worried I wouldn't recognize them! haha...Love you guys!
The surprise didn't end there...After mom and dad were stranded in the airport for over twelve hours ( God bless them) they missed there flight just so they could be there for me when I arrived. They were supposed to have been home a day earlier than me, but Delta got a little crazy and needless to say made some mistakes. However I am so proud how mom and Dad made the most of it, and overcame what could have been a nightmare...

Not to mention, the boys and Aunt Kathy came to our rescue and boy was I surprised!!




Love these boys!!


Thank you again for coming and getting us! I love you all so much!