Tour of Grand Valley

I went on a tour of my school today, and I got to see where I will be going in the fall.  Now I am really excited to start school.  The college is absolutely beautiful.  It is a lot better than I imagined.  I know that God is going to open so many doors in my life through my going to this college and I can't wait to see all the neat things that will come to be.

I also found out that I will be starting school as a sophomore instead of a freshman.  All of the classes that I took at Muskegon Community College are going to transfer.  Even the history class that I barely passed.  The guidance counselor showed me what I would have to do to get my degree and it is looking easier than I thought to get my degree.  Now I just have to wait until June 9th to schedule my classes and go to orientation. 

Here are some pictures of me outside of Student Services.  The clock tower is behind me.

This Matter of Forgiveness

"When you choose to forgive, you go from victim to saint in your own story. When you choose to forgive, it becomes your story, not the offenders story. When you choose to forgive, you are given the potential to transcend tragedy. When you choose to forgive, you are touched by evil, you are not defined by it." Brian Zahnd  in UNconditional pg. 108

It was Easter yesterday so I guess that is what is prompting this blog, but on a deeper level I have been really thinking about forgiveness a lot lately because of this book that I am reading and because I am really trying to live as a Christian ought to live.  More and more I am convinced that forgiveness is the very central idea of Christianity.  However, it is not just the forgiveness of my sins that I need to focus on.  Christ did not just come to die for my sins.  He also came so that we might follow him and learn to forgive others their sins also.  We are to forgive because he has forgiven us.  He showed us what forgiveness looks like so that we could give it away.  We can't keep this thing to ourselves.  So what does this mean for me?  Well, I think it means that I need to love those people that hate me.  I need to show mercy to the people that I would rather punish.  If someone hurts me I can not retaliate against them.  I need to love even when it hurts.  After all, isn't this what Jesus did for me.  I am sure it hurt a lot to die on a cross.  I am sure it hurt a lot to feel abandoned by God, betrayed by friends, and persecuted for sins that he did not even commit.  Thanks to him I will never suffer to that degree.  So can I love someone when they are unlovable?  Can I love someone when they act in evil ways?  I know I will have to try.  I call myself a Christian.  That is a Christ follower.   In order to be a Christ follower I have to forgive, there's just no way around this one.

The Puzzle Pieces Have Come Together

I have finally finished the puzzle that I started months ago, literally months ago.  Now I just have to get poster mounts and I can put in on my wall.  And just in time because Part 1 of Deathly Hallows is being released tomorrow.  Yay! 
What else have I been up to?  I am still working on that afghan.  Unfortunately I am only about a third done with it so far, but at least I have made progress on it.  It takes some time to do an afghan of that size.

In my personal life I have just been notified that I was accepted into Grand Valley State University for next fall.  Also, I was given so much in grants and loans that I actually have 3,000 more than what I need for the first year.  This is good because I have an old car and it will probably need repair at some point.  God has been so good to me!  Also, I received a promotion at work and now I am an optician instead of a door greeter.  That is a big pay difference, better hours, and a lot better job duties!

It is evident that God is working in my life.  My faith is growing everyday as I see that God is in the details of my life.  I never imagined that my life could be this good or that I could be in this place, and its just getting better.  I am so grateful!