Here’s to a New Semester…

Hey friends, I realize it’s been over a week since I’ve written, so I guess I should start by confirming my existence :P I am, in fact, alive. Between visiting friends in Syracuse last week, InterVarsity Eboard meetings on the weekend, and starting class this week, I have been quite busy…in the best sense of the word.

I am currently on day 4 of the spring semester, and I can honestly say I can already feel its going to be a good one. My classes are all a little tough, but all very interesting. My favorite part so far? Getting to sleep in until 9 each morning (and having at least an hour and a half before class). Trust me, after having four 8:30s last semester, this is quite a treat! I love that I can wake up slowly, eat breakfast, and sip tea while I spend time with the Father. It is the best way to start my day.

As I mentioned before, I spent a good chunk of my last two weeks with my fellow Eboard members planning for our fellowship’s semester. I want to start by first thanking each of you who prayed for us as we planned together. It was a lot of work for sure, but God really met me in some sweet ways. I am already seeing what it means to be humbled in leadership, and He is truly beginning to grow me. Besides talking logistics, we were able really focus our vision for the semester. We are so excited to see how God is going to work specifically through small groups to bring more students on Binghamton’s campus to know His redeeming love. Specifically, we prayed hard about a number of students we want to come to know Him in these next months, and we are excited to see 7 meet and accept Jesus. This is more than a number, it is 7 people’s lives transformed by the grace that surpasses all understanding!

I ask for continued prayer for InterVarsity in these months. This Friday is our general interest meeting, where we will hopefully meet many new faces! During the semester, we will be reading through Ecclesiastes in small groups and also focusing on a series about being “radical” in response to the way Jesus lived. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our fellowship and for me!
Well, its about time for me to head off to orgo, so I figured I leave you with my life through Instagram (@serogers22) these past two weeks. Enjoy!

A Diplomatic Task

Yesterday during my quiet time I read these words:

I’ve written a post on them before, but they carry more weight each time I read them. I am an ambassador of the gospel. Can we pause and soak in how big of a deal that is?!?

Webster Dictionary defines ambassador in this way:

“1. an official diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative appointed for a special diplomatic assignment
2. an authorized representative or messenger”

If that doesn’t sound legit then I don’t know what does. These words carry such weight and merit. We are given such a powerful and exciting job. Chosen to represent the most prestigious kingdom ever in existence. Woah. My thoughts and actions represent the King.

Ambassadors are not called to stay home, they are called to go out…to represent. The task may be difficult, but they are given a special prize. Diplomatic immunity. Think about it, not only is professing God worth it, but He promises to keep us safe, and His children are offered the ultimate reward: His redemption through the death on the cross.

Friends, do not be discouraged by the world today. We are given a special task by our Father. Go and be bold today!

Great Expectations

My car is packed and I’m gathering the last few things in my room; its official, I’m saying goodbye to my home again until Easter. While school doesn’t start for me until January 28th, I have quite a busy week in upstate New York. This weekend I will be away at a leadership retreat in Saratoga, then I’m making a quick pit stop in Syracuse to visit some wonderful people, and by this time Thursday, I will be all settled into my dorm room at Binghamton.

This coming semester, I have the amazing opportunity to serve on the executive board of my campus’s chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for receiving the position. I am working alongside four other students as we help plan the semester for our fellowship. Specifically, my job is to coordinate the weekly Friday night meetings we hold for a large number of students. Over break I’ve been getting in contact with speakers and all that good stuff in preparation for the spring semester. But this weekend and next weekend, I will be doing a lot of planning with our Eboard as we vision cast for how to grow our fellowship in Christ. We know that God has great things planned for our campus, and I truly believe that we can see lives transformed by His love this coming year.

So friends, I ask for prayer as we are at the retreat this weekend (and our meetings next weekend). Prayer that God will reveal to us the ways He wants our fellowship to work and grow. Prayer that we submit willingly to the ways God is going to mold us and the rest of our chapter. And prayer for my campus. That they return this semester with a curiosity and yearning to know Christ on a deep and personal level.

I have great expectations for these next few days, and I thank you in advance for your prayers!

To Be Honest

I’m going to get real with you people, because well something about a blog post that can be seen around the world just makes me feel candid. I don’t know…it’s true. Anywho, lately I’ve felt a little unmotivated. Break has been relaxing, but the lack of routine has started to pay a toll on some important aspects of my day, namely, my quiet times.

It is frustrating really, I have so much time on my hands, and yet I seem to fill it with anything and everything but Him. Especially after ending my semester feeling slightly drained, I never expected this. I expected to spend my break immersed in His truth, daily being filled and refreshed. But I sit here today, with only a week left, realizing I’ve put God on the back burner.

Why is it that we so easily push aside the One who gives us everything, for the meaningless little things. Ingratitude. Back in November, I wrote this post about how I wanted to start keeping a list of the things I am thankful for. I got a few pages deep, writing down the small things throughout my day where I saw God’s hand. But since I’ve been home, I’ve stopped. I stopped writing things down, but more so I’ve stopped noticing…or paying attention. I’ve become overwhelmed with this relaxation over break that I’ve let contentment come before God Himself. I stopped coming to Him in praise on my own time to thank Him for the ways He is blessing me daily.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a part of The #SheReadsTruth devotional community. At the beginning of the new year we started a plan called “Fresh Start” that is meant to refresh and prepare us for the work God has planned this year. This past week I’ve fallen behind on my reading. Throughout the day it pops into my head, but I’ve brushed it off to do other things..until yesterday. Yesterday in church it finally hit me, the ways I’ve made time my idol. I was convicted of how I ignored my need for God and wrote off the ways He works in my life daily. So today I sat. I put away all of my media, closed my door and rested with Him in the silence of my room.

This is my confession, of how I’ve neglected the One deserving of all my time. It is my submission, to acknowledge my broken state in need of Him. It is my encouragement, that God gives us unlimited chances, even when we fall away from him.

Today, I am learning.

A Day In the City

One of the perks of going to school in New York instead of staying in Pennsylvania is that all of my Bing friends live in different areas. Ok, maybe that’s not totally fun over breaks, butttttttt it means I can go visit them! And well that sounds just dandy to me. This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to do just that, I went to NYC for the day to meet up with some of my favorite ladies. Granted, I’ve been there a handful of times before, but it was so much fun to go with people who actually knew their way around!

We started the day with some dim sum. Let me tell you about that experience…it was quite hectic. The restaurant was packed and everything happened so fast-paced. Before I knew it we had dishes of food on our table (none of which I could pronounce of course) The food was amazing though! I’ll have you know I tried chicken feet there…that was interesting. After dim sum, we headed over to the Met to be all cultured and such. I may or may not have giggled at a few scantly-clad statues. Next we made a cupcake stop at a small bakery. Fun fact: that was one of my only requests of what I wanted to do in the city. I’m only slightly obsessed with those suckers. We made a pit stop at H&M for some shopping and then ended our day in Central Park.

After two train rides, three subway trips, and blocks of walking, I was definitely pooped that night when I got home. But, it was a blast! I am so happy I got to spend a girl's day in the city, and I cannot wait to do it again!

This One’s for the Girls

No, I’m not alluding to the Martina McBride song…but you are quite welcome, as I’m sure that song is stuck in your head now. I’m referring to some of the lovely ladies God hes placed in my life.

I just came home from my friend Kristen’s house where I spent the night with my closest girl friends. These ladies have been there for me for years, and I love how our friendship has only grown as we’ve matured. I am blessed by the sweet bond we share. We spent the night catching up, eating wayyyy to much food, and just enjoying each other’s company. These girls are great. One moment we can be having the most awkward conversation ever, and then segway seamlessly into the ways we see God challenging us to pursue Him. They are all truly an encouragement for me as I grow closer to Him. Although I didn’t take any photos last night, here are a few pictures of us from the past. As you can see, their beauty is real…both inside and out. Oh gracious I love these ladies!

 

 
(as you can see, we are big fans of tradition…every winter we look at Christmas lights together & every summer we have a Melting Pot date)

I also had my first blog date on Thursday! I first found Samantha from Today I Am over the summer (she was my first follower!) and after talking Samantha for months now, we finally sat down and had a Skype date. It was crazy because I wasn’t nervous at all about Skyping her…I just feel like I’ve gotten to her so well through her blog, emails, and letters. I was definitely excited to talk “in person.” Oh mylanta was it a blast! We literally talked for over two hours (and probably could have gone on longer!) We discussed about school and our futures, laughed a whole bunch, and even discussed accents…it was wonderful. My favorite part of all is that we prayed together at the end. Samantha has the sweetest heart, and such a passion for God. I left our conversation encouraged and overjoyed at the time we spent together. It is truly amazing how God can use this blogging community bring two girls that live almost 11 hours apart together! I am so thankful for this new friendship we are building.

So today, my heart is so full. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the friendships God has placed in my life. Whether it is with the girls who have been there for years, or someone I’ve just known a few months, He has placed such encouraging women in my life that I am so glad to call my friends. There is truly nothing like good quality girl time that is rooted in Him!