6 Days!

Well, I leave for South Asia in 6 days and I CAN'T WAIT. Today was the final day of our retreat. It was pretty chill which was much needed as we were all pretty worn out. We are currently $11,000 short of what we need for the trip. While that may SEEM like a lot, you must consider a few things. First, in the last week it has dropped from $20,000 so that's pretty stinkin' awesome AND the trip ended up costing about $16,000 more than originally budgeted thanks to the volcano and its effects on airfare costs. REGARDLESS we are confident that God is going to provide the last chunk. Be praying!! We're already thanking Him for the crazy way it's going to come in. I also ran some errands for the trip with my team and later with my mom today. As a team we are taking a bag full of foods and such that the long term team there have requested. My group was in charge of yeast packets and Honey Nut Cheerios? Hey.. Whatever makes them happy!! My mom and I went to Sam's where we began the process of making a bomb first aid kit for the trip, then Backwoods where my mom bought me some verrryyy useful stuff for the trip. So thankful = ). ALSO, I started packing today. Crazy, huh? You can call me Chandler = ). It actually feels super good to pack this early! I'm trying to condense as much as possible. I wanna travel light. Lastly, I took my first malaria pill today. That means the trip is CLOSE! Woohoooo!! Just be praying against the enemies attacks on our group. I got a picture today of our team in a circle but slowly we were spreading out more and more. I believe it was a warning that Satan sees how we are building unity and wants to try to make us feel isolated, judged, and insecure. He wants to prevent unity and trust, but we say none of that = ). So now for a few days to recoup before heading out. Have I mentioned I'm excited... Yes, I have. Sorry = ) I finished "Humility" by Andrew Murray yesterday, and I loved something he wrote at the end. SO, I will share it. Enjoy = )

"It is only in the possession of God that I lose myself. As it is in the height and breadth and glory of the sunshine that the smallest speck dancing in its beams is seen, even so humility is taking our place in God's presence to be nothing but a speck dancing in the sunlight of His love. How great is God! How small we are! Lost, swallowed up, in love's immensity!"
-Andrew Murray

Jeremiah 17...

Wow... Sometimes God is just so obvious. Allow me to tell a sub-story of my past semester. Beginning of my semester was rough-- no secret. Jeremiah 17:5-8 was really involved with the whole situation. While the passage had previously been a favorite of mine, I got to the point that I didn't even really want to open up the book of Jeremiah. I felt betrayed by God. I felt like He'd used it against me. Vessel #1: Allison Harms texted me one day and said she felt like I was supposed to read Jeremiah 17:7-8. She felt like it'd be encouraging to me. I remember saying, "That's funny because..." Vessel #2: A few weeks ago I received a letter from Lana Kelley. Part of the letter was a drawing of a big tree with roots with Jeremiah 17:7-8 written under it. She explained how she saw it playing out in my life. She also had no idea the irony of it. Vessel #3: Tonight during India training we were with the Equip team. Ashley Lynch came up to me and said that she had been asking God what He wanted her to share with me and she had heard Him say, "A verse in Jeremiah. It's underlined." It wasn't her usual Bible, so when she flipped through, the only verse underlined was Jeremiah 17:7-8. Uncanny, huh?? When I heard the reference come out of her mouth I started laughing and crying at the same time. She said that I had deep roots in Him, and as I go into India, He will be my refreshment. He's going to continually pour Himself upon me. He will overflow onto me! I explained the significance of the verse in my life and we both just started laughing. We talked about what God might be wanting to show me through the verse and she prayed clarity concerning it over my life. Man, it was so weird. I also had some other great words spoken over me that were so encouraging but this is the one that left me thinking the most. Father, what are you wanting me to glean from this?? I ask for more refreshing water of life and I pray that I may indeed have fruit even in the midst of a desert. You are GOOD! Thank you for renewing this part of Your love letter to me in a way no other could...



“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8

8 Days

I leave in 8 SHORT DAYS. That's such a crazy thought!! Today we start our group retreat. There are 16 of going: Blake, Heather, Madison, Shana, Jenny, Jake, John, Rachel, Julie, Nicole, Caitlin, Lauren, another Lauren, Kelly, Stephanie, and me. Now you have all of our names to be praying for = ) So anyway, we are hanging out in Norman for our retreat to save money. We'll be watching films such as The Finger of God which I'm SUPER excited about, as well as having roommate dinners, treasure hunting, and joining the Equip team for their weekly meeting tonight. I'm really excited about all of it actually. It will be great to get to know everyone better before leaving and just get pumped up. I've been reading a lot in preparation for the trip. We are required to read "Humility" by Andrew Murray and "Words of Knowlege" by Randy Clark. I haven't read the second book yet, but "Humility" has been FANTASTIC. I'm surprised at what an easy read it is since it's pretty old (it was written in the 19th century). It's been very applicable. On my own I've been reading "From East to West: God in the Shadows" by Ravi Zacharias. It's shed so much light on the culture I'll be going into. There's a little update. I'll have more to say no doubt after the retreat. I'm also wanting to put the Creation to Christ story on here for you all to read. It's what we will be using to share the Gospel while in South Asia. I haven't gotten it all memorized quite yet but I'm pretty pumped. I'm really just excited all around. Man, God is so so good! I can not WAIT to see Him move!!! I'll leave you with a little quote I read in "Humility" that I loved...

"God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are notion, He can make something out of us." -Martin Luther

Literati and Art on a Rainy Day

Today was so full. I truly enjoyed it. The morning started off a bit rough, but it got much better. I met Koby to go to the Literati Book Fair of local authors and publishers downtown. While, I didn't buy anything, it was interesting to see how it all works, talk with publishers about how to buy their books wholesale, talk to authors about their works, and get the inside scoop on the underground culture. I get the feeling there are all kinds of exciting underground festivals of sorts that take place in Oklahoma City. You can guarantee that I'll be seeking them out from now on. I bet I could meet so many interesting people at them! On our way out we saw a poster for an exhibit at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. It looked interesting so Koby and I headed that way. SO incredible. Not only did I get to see costumes from Audrey Hepburn films, the original Atonement dress along with many more awesome original cinematic costumes, but I FINALLY got to see the blown glass exhibit which has always so intrigued me. Let me say, ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. One hundred percent worth my ten dollars. Here are some pictures I took there...






And my absolute FAVORITE...

Can my ceiling please look like that??!

If you have never been to the OKCMoA, I highly suggest it. Enjoy your community! See what it has to offer!!

Contemplations from an Evening Walk

During my time at OU, I've grown to really enjoy walks. Now that I'm home, I still want to go on them. They're so relaxing. They provide the perfect time for praying and just letting God overwhelm me. Today I took my first walk at home. Here are some pictures I took as I walked and thoughts they inspired...

My walking buddy...


"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103





"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
-Robert Frost

Freshman Year Is Over

Tonight is my last night in Norman for the year. My last night in a dorm. My last night in Adams Muldrow 506. So much has happened this year... Man, it's absolutely insane when I look back at it. To think of where I was in August, where I was in September, where I was in December, where I was in January... Where I am now. I've been to the depths and back, and all I can say is GOD IS FAITHFUL. So here's my tribute to Freshman year of college... Everywhere I've been, people I've met, the places God is still taking me... This took a whole lot of narrowing down.. In fact.. I think I'll just have to limit this post to new friends I made this year...


Koby and Sam... You guys were my first new friends at OU. I can't imagine where I'd be if God hadn't put you two in my life. Your friendship means the world to me. Thank you for being there for me so many times that I couldn't even begin to count. I can't wait to see where God takes our friendship... There is MUCH to say... But I'll leave it at that for now...


To my lifegroup girls (and this is just from last semester!). You all are AWESOME. Thank you for teaching me about community!


Chesh and Travis... We've been friends for a few years now, but you two have truly become my brothers. Thank you for loving me and being there for me. Thanks for Skype dates, long walks, talking until 3 in the morning, and just being a true brother in Christ. You both are mighty men of God and I can't wait to see where God takes you!!


Cruiser.. You've made me smile on so many days when I felt like I had nothing else to smile about... I just love you and Dax to the moon and back. Thanks for letting me be your Wendy = )



Boys... Hahaha you're just funny. That's about all I have to say about you three


Cassi and Rachelle, you girls are adorable. God is going to use you in mighty, might ways. Be usable; He's gonna use you two!!


Children of Antioch... Thank you for your picture of joy and acceptance. It blesses me...


Caitlin- thank you for always laughing with me about things at Lifegroup that no one else catches. Your uniqueness and passion is inspiring. Robin- You are an incredible listener and a sweet spirit. People feel at home around you. Your hospitality is one of a kind, truly.


Steph (how sad is it that this is my only picture of you?!) You are SUCH an inspiration. Your dedication to God's call upon your life and your schoolwork is unlike any I've seen. You have a sweet spirit. We have so much in common, but there are many things about you that I admire and aspire to become. Keep on keeping on!!


Rachel- you are steadfast in your commitments and relationships. You seek God's will always. You have amazing perseverance which I aspire to obtain. I can't wait to share a house with you and Koby next year!!


Other Antiochers... Man I just love you guys... Where to even begin, seriously. Community is beautiful. Finding unity in what we have in common... Acts 2:42-47. Revival is coming friends...


Lauren and Alex hahaha I LOVE you two. Watching you guys play off of each other seriously cracks me up. Lauren- I love your hunger for the Lord. Watching your faith grow is such a blessing to me. God's gonna bless your hunger. Alex- you're a leader. Don't forget it. You're also an encourager. Don't forget that either. I love watching you lead!


Lindy, I am so blessed to have been your roommate. I'm so glad our friendship grew rather than diminishing through this experience. Thank you for putting up with me and all my little crap. You're a great friend haha! This may be the end of an era for us, but our friendship is gonna keep on going. I love you and am always here for you even if we aren't gonna share a room anymore = (


Abba... Thank you for loving me and not forsaking me. You never give up on me. Everything you do screams "I love you." Thank you for Your inerrant plan. I love walking each day with you knowing You will never lead me astray. I look forward to where You'll lead!! Thanks for walking through the depths with me this year. Thanks for putting up with my pounding screaming. I know You will never hurt me. I believe You make all things new. You've been SO good to me. Thank you. Thank you. Oh.. And thank you for things like stars to remind me how much You love me. Thanks for creating them just for me = )