Thank you God for the most wonderful of friends. I would never have imagined that I could have people to rely on spiritually, and provide biblical advice when I needed it. I mean that might seem crazy to you for others who have grown up in church, don't get me wrong I've been in church all my life - but I was not always connected. When I would go through difficult times, I remember my mom telling me to surround myself with christian friends. I passed it on as worthless advice - after all, we know whats right for ourselves right? I think that is what growing up is all about. Realizing that your parents were right after all. Everything they told me, and I attempted to rebel against, were words of wisdom through experience.

Anyway, it is important to surround yourself with friends that know the true healing power of God and recognize his glory. That way when you slip, they can help you get up. Sometimes, even the faith of those around you can lift you up. I was in my Inter Varsity Bible Study group the other day, and we do this method called the inductive method. Rather than a preaching, we take a piece of paper with a passage on it from the bible and a pen and see what we can get out of it, followed by a small group discussion, a large group discussion, and then three songs of worship. Last week's passage was Luke 5:17-26 NIV, the story of how Jesus healed the paralytic that was lowered through the roof by his friends. Well actually, the passage does not specify whether these men were friends of the paralytic or just men that were sent to him, but still, it says "They went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Well who was "their"? The men that carried in the paralytic! My friend Janice pointed this out, how maybe there will be times in your life in which others will need to bring you to Jesus, and their faith will cause an encounter with God. I pray that I gain more of these friends like I have recently. But more than that I pray that I can be like this to others. I want to be a support and help others in their walk with God!

But what I've noticed recently is how alone I feel here at school. I found myself wishing I were at NC's prayers that I hear about, or at the Faith Lounge on Wednesdays. I had to be reminded that being alone isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I can feel myself and this tug in my heart to seek God here in private. Alone. Its definitely something that I have needed to learn. And sitting here reading the word, listening to music, and most of all praying has not only taught me more about myself - but more about him. What he's like and what He wants. Drawing conclusions and relating the word to everyday life and how we should live. Its not so much that im lonely... just alone. Its kind of nice. There is a stillness in which I rely on God rather than others. Of course, I can't wait to get back. But I am learning and growing here. I feel like its a journey, a rite of passage one might say. And I know there is a reason I got accepted into this school and this major when perhaps... my grades weren't spectacular or quite up to par. Can't wait to see whats in store...