First off.
My name is Virginia. And if you dont know me. There are a few things you should know. I often dont finish anything i start because i am scared to fail. I am thankful for a loving God and awesome people who are in my life. My passions in life are people. and i say people because i thought it was for children, until other service opportunities brought me to the acknowledgment that i can not love anyone more than anyone else. I am to love and serve all.
This last year has been a giant whirlwind for me. God has blessed me in so many ways and truly taught me to love. I have a good friend who often says love until it hurts and then love some more. I finally know the meaning of this.
Growing up i never felt that love was something that other people could really do. I mean i loved people but i dont think i really LOVED them. Fall 2009, i was baptized and i began to loosen my grip on "MY life" and i say this because i struggle with control. Looking back on how in control i thought i was, i was really raveling out of control. Letting go and letting God, was truly the best thing i could do for my life. God has transformed my life, and it is beautiful. I was given three experiences last year that truly impacted me for a lifetime.
First one was Spring Break 2010, my sophmore year of college. I along with 29 others traveled down to Louisville,(Lou-ah-vul) Kentucky. We went end almost blind as to what we would be doing each day was a new surprise. We were able to spend time with children, in other culture who taught me alot. I was able to experience worship in a church who was primarily Ethiopian. Beautiful. When i think of the end of days i see people from all nations, tribes and tongue bringing praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Christ is the Great Physician, who heals, A counselor who has all the answers, and a Father who loves us. With that AGAPE love. A love that never ceases, is self sacrificing, unconditional, a love that can be given to the unlovable or the unappealing, and a love that we do not deserve. And our God gives us that love, so that we will pour it out.
The next experience that really hits home to me was when i traveled with my local church down to West Virginia to go hiking and white water rafting. An experience that sounded great until about the week before and then i absolutely no longer wanted to go. Something was holding me back. I am a worrier, especially when it comes to things i feel are out of my control, and trust me white water rapids are not something I can control. I was letting my fears become a barrier to trusting God. Well something inside of me still was holding on to what a great experience it was going to be so I headed down to W.V with a few other people. Crammed in a car we made it pretty late and headed straight to bed. The next morning we were able to explore for the day and go hiking. Well i knew one of the people who i had rode down with but was still the outsider in my group, and God knew exactly what he was dong. I realized while in West Virginia that i could no longer rely on people. I had to rely and trust in Him and only Him. WOW! I am not even going to begin to explain what i gained from having no one for one weekend. Just me and God. He was with me all the time. I came back having learned how to look to God.
The last experience that i encountered that drew me completely to Christ was CRAVE. It was a weekend gathering where the Bible was read from beginning to end no stopping. Thursday night after church my local church started reading and finished later Sunday afternoon. My fellow classmates and brothers and sisters in Christ spent their weekend reading the Bible and being a light to the campus and community. How inspiring right? I wasnt able to stay in the location but i was able to help serve for part of the weekend. It was also being podcasted online. So i woke up in the morning listening to the Bible being read and went to sleep with the Bible being read aloud. Declaring the Lord. Through those experiences i have found that
Acts 6:3-4 is something i want to apply to live my life.ALWAYS.
"... We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
I have learned so much this last year, that it would be incredibly ridiculous to try and explain everything in one post... So i will leave you with this for now.
