Acceptance.

One of my favorite aspects about the small town of Boone, North Carolina and Appalachian State University as a whole, is the over abundance of creativity found in the crevices of everyday life. At any moment of the day, one could walk by a humble musician strumming a guitar, or a photographer attempting to capture a beautiful moment in a single snapshot. Even the way people dress here reflects artwork. Looking around the quad on a sunny day, I am met with glances from strangers with original tattoos, colored hair, eclectic outfits, and confident attitudes.

What might be surprising to you, is that even the people who don't fit this "artsy" mold are surprisingly accepting of others. In the short time I've been a student here, I have become accustomed to preppy, fraternity members associating with people who are the complete opposite of them-outdoor enthusiasts with a free spirited, artistic nature. I've seen members of the homosexual community shown so much love by members of the campus' Christian community. I've seen athletes showing kindness to freshman girls. I've seen individuals celebrated for their authenticity. I've seen students hold the doors for others, and smile at passersby. At Appalachian State, there is no such thing as race or gender barriers. There is a place for everyone, there is an overwhelmingly refreshing opportunity to become exactly whom you were meant to be.

Being in this community has given me the incredible opportunity to grow and reflect upon the individual I hope to become in my short four years here. The acceptance among this melting pot of a college has given me an amazing portrayal of the way heaven will be like one day. Jesus delights in each one of His children. He wants us to come to him exactly as we are-for we are ALL made in His image. 

The Church body here is an incredible example of loving acceptance of all individuals. There are people involved in the Christian community from every walk of life, who dress every way imaginable, and who have all different interests. Yet, everyone is celebrated for who they are as individuals. This experience has been incredible new for me, and is something I truly cherish with my whole hart. In many Christian communities, it is difficult for someone to become involved if he or she does not fit a certain mold. Yet, Jesus never organized boundaries for His people! "For we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." The acceptance prevalent on this college campus should be equally, if not more prevalent in the Christian church. 

I challenge all my readers to re-evaluate what you except. Are you showing God's love to ALL people-or just the types of people who most clearly resemble yourself? If you're hoping to live like Jesus, that includes showing His love to everyone, from all walks of life. Dare to take a step out of your own shell, as comfortable as it may be, and show acceptance to someone who has the tenacity to live life differently.

Better Put Your Armor On.

My first week at college has been a whirlwind...to say the least. The busyness of college can be quite overwhelming at times, but I can truly say that I am having the most amazing time up in the Appalachian mountains. God has given me some incredible friends, and I'm blessed to have a network of quality people surrounding me at all times.

However, I did not start this post to talk about how awesome college has been for the past week. I want to discuss spiritual warfare. 

In the past, alcohol has been a major temptation for me. In fact, it's incredibly embarrassing to even admit that in print, because so often I've been in denial about just how much of a battle it's been during my high school years. I surrounded myself with "good people" who did the "right" things, but still chose to go out and party on the weekends. This past summer, God has been working in my life in a supernatural way. I decided to give up drinking for the entire duration of my freshman year of college. 

Talk about a major life change. 

Since I've made that decision, I've felt a wave of peace overwhelm my soul. I've gone to parties, but for the first time, did not feel guilty about my actions. Without alcohol, I can be the fullest extent of my truest self. Yes, I still go to parties. Yes, I still have many friends who drink. 

By making that decision, I have chosen to die to my sinful desires, and embrace the person that God created me to become. However, what God intends to use for good, the enemy wants to use to bring about our destruction. After making this decision to forgo alcohol, I have found myself in the midst of intense spiritual warfare. Last night, I was reading scripture late at night when my roommate was sound asleep. I immediately heard noises that sounded like growling, and saw cabinets opening up on its own. I knew that the enemy was trying to use fear to forbid me from pursuing the Lord at 2am on a Wednesday night, in my college dorm room. 

Several of my other Christian friends have decided not to drink in college as well, and in turn, have been facing spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare can take on many forms-it may cause you to be feeling an overwhelming heaviness or loneliness or sadness. It may be that you just simply have lost all energy to get out of bed every day. It may be that you feel like no matter what choices you make, it's always the wrong one. The enemy is alive and well. It's easy to simply forget that we are living in a battlefield, and choose to make other things a priority instead of Jesus. It's incredibly overwhelming to try and adjust to living in a new environment, hard classes, and making all new friends. But Jesus wants us to rely on Him first and foremost. He is our strength and shield during this transition time. 

In a strange way, I am grateful for the spiritual warfare I have been facing, because it is a constant reminder that I am making the enemy even more mad by following Christ. I am confident that God is moving here at Appalachian State. Every day, I am reminded of His faithfulness, and His grace. But we all must keep our spiritual armor on at all times. Pray for those undergoing dark times. Bathe yourselves in His scriptural promises. Soak in His glory. 

Ephesians 6:12-13: 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.

His Grace Abounding.

His grace abounding so that our hopes may remain secure.

His love and mercy slowly filling the cracks in my damaged soul.

Blanketing me with favor, and covering my every disgrace,

I am slowly learning what it means to seek His face.

How can His great love be enough to fill every part of me-

Even the empty spaces that no one could ever see?

I'll never know,

I'll never understand.

I simply choose to rest with assurance of His good and faithful plan.

"But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life-a life that goes on and on and on, a world without end."

Romans 5:20-21 (Message version) 

LOVE-A Redemption Story

I'm going to admit something very embarrassing: I have had a selfish year. I have allowed the chaos of college applications, the pursuit of pleasure, many shallow relationships, and excessive planning to create distance between myself and Christ. Throughout my senior year, maintaining a relationship with God seemed to be the most difficult factor to juggle-despite retaking the SAT, maintaining straight A's, having a boyfriend,  multiple social commitments, touring colleges, and avoiding senioritis to completely interfere with graduation. 

But little did I know that God was going to radically change my priorities this summer. 

This past week was Love Week at Elevation Church. Love Week is a seven day period where members of the church family are called to sacrifice their time and energy in order to serve the community in big ways. Whether it be serving an hour, or giving up an entire day, we are encouraged to step out of our comfort zones and represent Jesus to those less fortunate. While I was extremely busy with the chaos of preparing for my first year away at college, I still felt a prompting to sign up for as many events as I possibly could. For the first time in a year, I was going to volunteer and become an active member of my church community. 

So it began. I had the privilege to serve with Urban Promise Ministries, Common Heart Ministries, and Blessed Assurance Ministries. At each and every place I went, God used at least one person to touch my life, and melt the ice that had begun to build up around my selfish heart. Whether it was laughing with my two Hispanic friends Charlotte and Jasmine (aged 6 and 7), gently reminding a woman with Alzheimer's that she was loved, or allowing a fellow volunteer (Austin-aged 5) to help me repair a wall; I felt a sense of fulfillment for the first time in a very long time. 

Brimming with joy from volunteering, I attended Elevation Worship's live recording event at Time Warner Cable Arena. While I knew the music would be unbelievable, I had no idea the extent to which it would affect my soul. As the musicians were singing about letting God work in our lives, and fully relying on him-I made an unshakable decision. 

I realized that it's time for me to let go, and let God lead my life. As I prepare to enter my college years, I'm determined to become the woman He has molded me to become. Instead of living in selfishness, I want to make decisions following the promptings Christ lays on my heart. I began to question every decision I made-braced with the prospect of Who is the Katy God wants me to be?

It's still incredible to me that God can use an event like Love Week to change my life in such a magnanimous way. By simply serving others, I learned how much more satisfying it is to openly serve Christ as opposed to singlehandedly serving myself. As a result, I'm no longer afraid to step onto my college campus. In fact, I feel more joy and a significant increase of peacefulness regarding my future. By stepping back and allowing God to lead me on this journey through life, I feel a kind of satisfaction and fulfillment that only comes from the freedom that He offers. I now plan on making my relationship with Christ a top priority in my life. His opinion is significantly greater than mine own. 

Through Love Week, I was not only able to bless others, but God truly blessed me by the redemption that He offers. The amazing thing is, He forgives my sin and loves me in spite of my selfishness. In loving others, I've been set free.