Skip to main content

Another Year's Over, A New One's Just Begun

Well, another year has come and gone. If I am to be honest, I’m not really sure where this year went. But, I do know that this year has taught me many lessons (often painful), brought many wonderful experiences, and has brought me closer to God.

Highlights of the year included finishing my 2nd year at Ecclesia College, and my 3rd overall year of college (Still holding onto a strong 4.0!), working at New Life Ranch for the summer as a Wrangler, getting major work done on my car (She went in 4 times this year… I must admit that she is aging), cutting my hair off, visiting Minnesota three times, Illinois three times, and many subsequent hours spent on the road driving (I still dislike long car rides… I get a bit… antsy), new friends, an awesome choir, an amazing roommate (who continues to teach me patience and trusting God through her chronic illness that she’s been battling this year), and an amazing Heavenly Father who continues to teach me how amazing He and just how much He loves me.

This year my main points of growth were learning to trust God more fully and learning to stop putting limitations on His abilities concerning my life. I always thought I trusted God, but thanks to a sanctification project in a class this fall, God taught me that I had a long ways to go. This project also brought some massive healing and forgiveness in my own life. God also taught me a lot about trust this summer as I learned to release relationship stress to Him. Many who saw me when I came back to school this fall said I was quite changed and accredited it to the short hair and the boldness that came with that choice. That may be some of it, but I think a larger part was that God taught me how to find my identity securely in him and the amazingly wonderful freedom that comes in that.

As I look forward into 2015, I feel stunned. I graduate in May. I’m not sure who’s idea that was, but I’m not sure the world is quite ready for me… or I’m not quite ready for the world… Either way, I graduate in May with my Bachelor in Christian Leadership and will proceed to take on the world! As of yet, I have no plans and that scares me. I’m a planner and like to have my life somewhat organized and figured out. But I really have no idea. I guess it’s only now starting to dawn on me as to how soon graduation is. My plan is to look for a small camp to work at for a year or so. I’ve worked with camps since I was around 13 years old as summer staff and am excited at the prospect of seeing how a camp runs year round. My biggest stipulation in a job is that it pays. I do have some college debt to pay off, which is stressful, but I keep reminding myself how much less it is in comparison to most college debts. Yet, it must be paid off- And the sooner the better. I’m not one who enjoys the idea of owing the government anything. :p

These last 2.5 years at Ecclesia have been wonderful, difficult, and life changing. More than anything that I learned in a textbook or in class material, my time at EC has taught me what community is meant to look like, and not look like. This time has taught me what friendship is, what accountability looks like, and the importance of having a mentor in my life. These years have taught me to love learning in a whole new way, to love learning more and more about my Creator and to draw nearer to Him. These years have taught me what it looks like to truly come humbly and openly into the presence of my Father and how to worship Him wholeheartedly with all that I am.

I guess it’s time to see what He wants to teach me in 2015.


Soli Deo Gloria
- Sara Jean








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seasons come and seasons go - Most of the time

The following is a statement from our daytime/weekend weather man.  "Keyc Mankato Snow Facts about our notable season: Since November 1st, 84.5 inches of snow. That's nearly 30" more than what we had last year (56.5", which seemed like a lot!) We've had snow on the ground since November 13th. That's nearly 4 months of snow... 1/3 of the year! -Meteorologist Mitch Keegan" Now don't take me wrong. I LOVE winter. It is by far my fav season. But most of our seasons aren't normally this long, we have lots of "in-between seasons". The truth? I'm tired of having to wear sunglasses anytime I'm outside to not be blinded by the sheer whiteness of everything. I'd like to see some green, and wear a t-shirt without a hoodie. pretty please? Oh And well.. even with our 25 foot dikes they're really worried about flooding. :( North Mankato is well below the dike line and there's already talk of people moving stuff out of the...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Believe In A Lie

Everyone has a lie that plays in the back of their head so often that they don't know when they started believing it, or where the lie came from, it's just a recognized fact. My lie is that I am alone in the world.  I don't think anyone ever told me that I was alone in the world, or that it was my job to protect myself from the universe, but it is most definitely how my brain has functioned for as long as I can remember. Wherever I've moved or whoever I'm around, this lie follows me. As I've gotten older I have come to a place in life where I recognize that this is a lie, and some days I can even not believe it. But still, this lie persistently lives in my head. I think I can say with confidence that this is a lie of the enemy that I will fight the rest of my life.  Recently, this lie has been winning more battles than I care to admit. Let me explain. You see, throughout college, God was pushing me and molding me. Part of this molding was le...
2 comments
Read more

I battle not against flesh...

" Finally,  be strong in the Lord and in  the strength of his might. Put on  the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against  the schemes of the devil. For  we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against  the rulers, against the authorities, against  the cosmic powers over  this present darkness, against  the spiritual forces of evil  in the heavenly places. Therefore  take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in  the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore,  having fastened on the belt of truth, and  having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and,  as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up  the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all  the flaming darts of  the evil one; and take  the helmet of salvation, and...
Post a Comment
Read more