Friendly Friday!

Name: Annalee Hunter
Major: Theater Arts

Most interesting hobby: I make faith based Jewelry!

Favorite thing about being a student at VT: This might sound strange, but one of my favorite things about VT is ABP in squires, and not because of the food. I love seeing fellow believers (member of BCM or no) sitting down and reading their bibles or talking to friends about Jesus. When I walk into ABP I sense such a great joy about the place, and I know it’s because Jesus dwells strongly in those walls because believers gather there to praise Him. It’s a form of ministry which is inspiring, rare and beautiful.

If you could do anything without the possibility of failure and money wasnt a restraint: what would you do? My mother has never been out of the country and has never had a chance for a vacation. Once she had a chance to go to Europe for a month without paying anything. But because I was going through extreme anxieties among other issues, she chose to stay because of me. So I would take my mother all over the world and experience every kind of culture with her. She has such a thirst for knowledge and seeing my mother talking, laughing, and sharing the gospel with people all over the world and having new adventures would be one of my most treasured gifts in this life.

What is my favorite thing to do to rest and relax? When I have had a long day and I just want to rest I instead clean my room, change my sheets, take a shower, put my favorite night gown on and snuggle up in my bed with my cat next to me and my sleeping music “Tranquil Babbling Brook” playing in the background while I read my favorite book.

Are you reading any books right now? I’m reading Every Woman’s Battle (compliments to Lindsey Skipper), Wild At Heart (Such a good read), and I’m re reading my favorite book as a child called Mara Daughter of the Nile (It’s still as good as I remember!). And of course, I’m reading my all-time favorite book: the Bible!

Favorite place to eat lunch? My mama’s kitchen!

What are you looking forward to about summer? Studying with the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo Tuscany for 6 weeks. Some of the greatest physical theater actors teach there! God is the one gave me this chance, ALL Him!

How has God encouraged you lately? God has been teaching me to rely completely and totally on him when things couldn’t get worse. I always struggled with getting into His word as much as I should, and recently God has been challenging me to get in the word almost every day. And wow, each time He always teaches me something new, and each time I have to end my “Jesus time” I don’t want to. He’s been showing me patience, endurance and humbleness. Every day my love for Him gets stronger and stronger. He is my everything.

Meditation Monday: Priorities by Ar M.

This week's contributor is Ar. She led the Women's Discussion/Bible Study last week on the topic of vulnerability. She shared some great thoughts and recommended a few books that are helpful for issues of relationships, friendships, communication and vulnerability. Take some time to read her meditation below and I pray it encourages you today!

At times, I can be a mess with my priorities. It shouldn't be hard to put God first, and yet how often do I do it? And then procrastination is an issue, and then all or parts of my day can also be filled with my own desires and plans, rather than God's or having a heart of service.

Proverbs 6:6-8 -- "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."

Psalm 46:10 -- "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The bible doesn't contradict, so how can I be busy like an ant, yet be still? It reminds me of how can I give money to God, yet still have money--God created a design where we give to Him first, yet still have money. God also created life where we honor Him first, yet still have time in the day for rest and productivity. Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." As a college student, you may not feel wealthy with your time, but in many ways we still are. If time is in our possession, we must still give God the firstfruits of this wealth. In giving God time, we can be still and know Him. Know that He is the God who loves us; saves us; heals us. 

Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." It can be burdensome to have work and responsibilities, yet God gives me rest and I can go forth like the ant and move, rather than being lazy or being consumed by worry and stress.

Friendly Friday!

Pictured on the right!

Name: Renée Chaney
Major: Biology

Favorite thing to cook or bake: Peanut butter cookies, definitely.

Favorite thing about being a student at VT: All the awesome people I've met, the food (particularly Moe's), the beautiful scenery, and maroon and orange!

If you could do anything without the possibility of failure and money wasnt a restraint: what would you do? I would definitely want to study abroad/travel!

What is my favorite thing to do to rest and relax? Take a nap or watch movies.

Are you reading any books right now? I'm going to start Mocking Jay this weekend! (After my tests are over.)

Favorite place to eat lunch? Moe's or Pita Vera.

What are you looking forward to about summer? Depending on what I'll be doing (I've applied for a lot of internships) I might be going to the beach with my family to celebrate my sister's high school graduation. I'm also looking forward to the possibility of living in Blacksburg this summer!

How has God encouraged you lately? I've really been encouraged by the fact that God is completely in control. I get stressed really easily about being on time or about things that aren't in my control (such as what I'll be doing this summer), and lately I've been learning to just give it all up to God and I've been a lot happier because of it!

Renée is typing ...

Meditation Monday: Being courageous by Annalee H.

Here's this week's meditation from Annalee. 

God has directed me to my mission field, He has confirmed in scripture, through words, and through other people that theater is my mission field. Yeah, you heard that right. Theater. It’s not every day that you hear someone say that God has led them to minister to people in a theater environment.  In theater - and acting in general - people tend to look up to actors, especially if they become famous. Actors become role models to people, and how great would it be to minister to actors that reach to a large audience. Even though I have done theater for many years, I went through a time where I wanted to do other things such as be a doctor or a reporter, but just this January God confirmed that theater is where I’m supposed to be.

I said, “Alright Lord, I’m yours” and I went head first into theater opportunities. But the thing is, after I gave my future to God I never got one call back out of five auditions.  I didn’t understand what God was doing, before I knew theater was my calling I got plenty of call backs.  Anyone who has no idea what an audition consists of, it’s basically one person going in front of three people (usually a director or producer or anyone else of power) and saying memorized lines and singing a song. It doesn’t sound that scary, but it’s literally terrifying. They are judging you on your talent and your worth as an artist.

Before I go on auditions I read the bible verse John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” It gives me peace to know that what I’m about to do and however it ends, God is greater than my fears. Just like He is greater than any embarrassment, shame or slight we can imagine.

Well, on my fifth audition I was headed to a conservatory that I had already been accepted to two years previously.  I only had a week to prepare and I didn’t feel ready at all. I went in the room with my head held high, my side of my dress ripped (yes the side of my dress ripped in the car), my resume and a picture of Jesus on my heart (literally, I keep a picture of Jesus close to my heart when I audition).  My mother read to me Psalm 45: 1 for comfort: “My heart is stirring with a noble song; let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.” I read this verse over and over before the audition because I do sing, act, breathe for my King.

But when I got into this huge audition they ridiculed my resume, made fun of my head shot, mocked my accent, and made jokes about how I sang off key.  I was mortified; I refused to sing for weeks (and I sing all the time). I would cringe in the shower thinking about the words they said; I was losing sleep because their words rang in my ears night and day. I felt worthless like I was no longer talented. I didn’t want to act, sing or dance ever again. I was at the end my rope, I yelled to God saying “I’m doing Your will! Help me to understand!” Through this I got more into God’s word, He taught me humility, courage,  patience and to rely on Him and Him alone for endurance. But the embarrassment and shame still clung to my heart.

Almost a month to the date of that painful audition, one of my acting professors brought in a surprise guest teacher. Little did the students know that she was a scouting agent for a school in Tuscany. After the class was over the guest teacher pulled me aside and said. “We at the Accademia dell’Arte would love to have you for the summer. We see great talent and would like to see you nurtured at our institution, we’ll assist you as much as we can financially so that you will be able to study with us.”

Wow, isn’t God good? He was saving me for the best. And that’s exactly what God is doing for you; He’s preparing you for the best! You might think God is neglecting you and trying you time after time. He’s teaching you as He reveals His intentions to you.

Even though I had this wonderful God-send, I was still in bondage by the embarrassment of the previous audition. But today, as I was listening to the radio on my way to school the song called History By Matthew West came on. The lyrics go like this:

It’s been a bad day, you've been looking back
And all you can see is everything you wish you could take back
All your mistakes, a world of regrets
All of those moments you would rather forget
I know it's hard to believe
Let me refresh your memory
Yesterday is history
And history is miles away
So leave it all behind you
Let it always remind you of the day
The day that love made history

I cried when I heard this song, even though embarrassment is taken lightly and is told as a joke, it can put chains on you. We all have those moments where we cringe in the shower or in the car when we remember something embarrassing or painful. That’s Satan holding chains on you, God calls us to be courageous (For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power [courage]… -2 Tim 1:7). Anything we do in God’s name is something to never be ashamed or embarrassed about, but honored and blessed.  God taught be today to never be embarrassed about the courage you showed to others.

So this Meditation Monday, I challenge you to ponder all those embarrassing moments you’ve had that still have holds on you. Whether you spoke up in class, did an audition, confronted a friend, sang off key, gave your testimony, waved to the wrong person or any other embarrassing things you can think of. Contemplate them and know that yesterday is history and history is miles away.

Don't start your Tuesday with the broken pieces of yesterday for God made yesterday in the past for a reason, so you can move forward tomorrow. 

Friendly Friday!

Welcome back to Friendly Friday! Today we have featured our lovely Allison (pictured on right of photograph)


Name: Allison Leigh Wingfield
Major: Environmental Policy and Planning, with a minor in Public and Urban Affairs

Favorite cartoon: I’m sort of indecisive, so I’ll go with Arthur and Scooby Doo. They were the staples of my childhood and I remember coming home from elementary school every day and watching them with my mom and little brother. It was always the highlight of my day :)

Favorite thing about being a student at VT: When the weather actually cooperates, I just love how beautiful this campus is, especially with all the spring flowers and buds. The beauty and renewal of this season reminds me of how awesome and caring our God is.

If you could do anything without the possibility of failure and money wasn’t a restraint: what would you do? I have a pretty long bucket list going, so it would be amazing to cross everything off of it someday.
What is my favorite thing to do to rest and relax? I love coffee, so whenever a cup of Joe is involved, good things happen. I also love to cook for people (just not in the yucky dorm kitchen…). But really, anytime I can just hang out with people and laugh I am a happy camper!

Are you reading any books right now? Hopefully I won’t lose any friends with this admission, but I have been reading The Hunger Games since Christmas...I promise to finish it before I see the movie though!!! Other than that, I’ve been reading through Exodus for Lent (since it has 40 chapters!).

Favorite place to eat lunch? I love the Greek salads from West End, especially when they are made by Chelsea Goodsell ♥

What are you looking forward to about summer? I still don’t have a job or anything planned so far, so I’m really just excited to see what adventures God will take me on. I am also SUPER excited to see what happens as far as the BCM summer mission trips!

How has God encouraged you lately? I have several close friends who are either not Christians, or have been struggling with their faith recently, and God has just provided so many opportunities for me to share His love with them. I struggle with “evangelism” sometimes, so God showing me how to be a light for Him through these close relationships has been such a blessing and a joy.

Meditation Monday: Katy Martin

Disclaimer: This may come across as a post for only single ladies, but it’s not! Just written from the perspective of a single lady ;) Also, grab some coffee, because I always love a good excuse to drink a cup.

Psalm 37:4

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – NIV

“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” - NASB

“Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.
Keep company with God, get in on the best.” – The Message

I specifically remember being introduced to this verse.

It was in high school after a leadership retreat my youth group had. We had a weekend full of community building, scripture learning, in the midst of Smith Mountain Lake’s beauty—along with a handful of older, attractive college-aged guys.

Needless to say my teenage heart throbbed in that environment. I developed a minor crush, and began mindlessly indulging on “what-ifs”.

Of course, what better person to talk this out with than with my youth pastor. She, like always, assured me of God’s plan and faithfulness. But, during this particular conversation she reminded me of Psalm 37:4. Let’s break this down as to how high school Katy translated this: If I was delighting, enjoying, seeking after the presence of God, He would give me the desires of my heart (which at the time was a very attractive, college guy).

Fast forward about five years (wow, that was a long time ago).

I’m listening to this fantastic sermon by Anne Lincoln from Matt Chandler’s church. (It was a segment from their singles weekend) Around midway through this chat, full of beautiful truths on singleness, Anne brings up Psalm 37:4. Immediately my brain goes into (in a rather sophisticated voice) “Oh yes, Psalm chapter 37 verse 4. I do love this verse.” She then, though, rocks my world.

Think about the desires of your heart.

Write them down (yes, right now)

A few of mine:

·      To fall in love and get married

·      Take photos of people and capture their stories

·      Lose about 40 pounds

Now look at what you wrote down, and let’s dissect them.

To fall in love and get married: this is my heart’s longing to be with a guy, but it’s more deeply my heart’s longing to feel loved and worthiness of pursuit.

Take photos of people and capture their stories: what I believe God has designed me for, my passion for photography and people. It’s also my heart’s longing to feel accomplished in doing something for the Kingdom and for loving on people.

Lose 40 pounds: this is me wanting to be happy in my own skin. To not be ashamed of what my jean size is or what the numbers on the scale say. It’s also my heart’s longing to feel beautiful, healthy, and “fearfully and wonderfully made”

Slowly I began to realize what Anne was getting at here.

If I’m delighting myself in the Lord, then all those things my heart desires, they are present!

*insert explosion of heart, probably fireworks too*

What an astronomical change of perception! It totally reversed my selfish mindset of getting what I want to soaking in Jesus and being satisfied with that!

Now, I don’t want to downplay God’s beautiful desire to please us, and give us the wonderful blessings of this life. But don’t be like me and get caught up in the “what do I need to do for God to give me what I want”.

Mediate on how you’re delighting yourself in God this week, and are you satisfied in that?

Have a beautiful day, ladies!

Love,

Katy

Ps. Here’s the link to Anne’s sermon: http://www.thevillagechurch.net/sermon/walking-as-beloved-daughters-of-god/

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