Refusing to Ride

     Over the past month, I've noticed how easy it is to ride on my circumstances. By the middle of break, slacking off was easy. After a month of no set schedule and no due dates, it becomes very easy to just exist. I had to fight the attitude of the environment around me in order to keep Christ a priority in my life. At the end of break, I attended SALT, a retreat over New Years that Chi Alpha holds every year. The expectancy for God to move created such a hunger in not just me, but our entire group. Bouncing off of each others' spiritual desire and victories was very normal. God's presence was so prevalent that it would've been hard for anyone to avoid it, even if they were trying. God revealed truth to me, showed me glimpses of the future, used me to minister to others, and so much more. I left Indy that weekend with a greater passion to reach my campus and a deeper relationship with God. During the first week of classes, that passion grew as those of us who went to the conference began to share and implement the vision God had given us for our campus.
     Now, as week three of the quarter is beginning, I've noticed it would be easy to once again slide into the routine of things, to let the vision and passion God's planted in my heart fade to the background in the light of schoolwork, responsibilities, and fundraising. But this year, I'm choosing to refuse to ride on the circumstances. I'm choosing to live life as if I truly do believe Psalm 16:

     Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

 Fundraising Update: As some of you have heard, I'm currently having issues with my on-campus mail. If you've sent anything to me and have not heard back from me, please let me know. Most likely, I have not yet received your gift. If you sent something to the correct address, but it was returned to you, I apologize for the inconvenience. If that is the case or you have not given but would like to, gifts can now be sent to my home address: Natalie Orndorf, 1115 N Park Rd, Bellefontaine, OH 43311. I will let everyone know when the problem is fixed and mail can once again be sent to my college address. Thanks for understanding!