Your seat's expensive
Monday, August 15th
I had just spent my first weekend in my new place. First night I kept waking up. You have to get used to new normal sounds when you're somewhere new. Second night I slept all through the night. It was great. I was excited about Monday morning because my friend Laura was coming to see my apartment and then go to the opening pep rally on campus with me. She was so sweet to get up so early on her day off.
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| Laura and I among the student body. (pic credit: CFNI) |
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| I love confetti! (pic credit: CFNI) |
The pep rally actually lasted a while and Laura had to leave during the break. I was hoping she was able to stay. Now I had to go back by myself with people I didn't know! Eeek. When I went back to my seat, I saw a girl in the aisle and we struck up a conversation. Her name was Madison and she was from San Antonio. She dreams of having her own coffee shop one day so it can serve as a place of worship and support new musicians. I told her about some nearby coffee shops that she can go to for inspiration and offered to take her to one at lunchtime. She gladly accepted. When the pep rally was over, we drove to The Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts but it was closed. We decided to have lunch at Oddfellows instead.
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| "It's ok, my best friend's a photographer," Madison replied when I told her I was gonna take lots of pics. |
Later that day, I told Laura about how I met Madison and the great time that I had during lunch. Laura told me she prayed I would connect with people around me after she left. I told her God answered her prayer!
Tuesday
We started the morning with worship and then did something pretty amazing. CFNI showed each continent on the screen and students who were from there were instructed to gather on stage. A student from each country would lead the people in prayer. About 120 nations were represented on campus.
Sound of Music
Every Tuesday after class, I have guitar lessons here on campus. I have always loved music. At our first house, my parents converted the garage into the entertainment room and they would throw these rad parties. There was a stage and live band. My dad, being an engineer, created a light system that flashed to the beat of the music. He played bass and electric guitar. My mom sang. Guests would ballroom dance under the disco ball.
I purchased a black Lucero. It's a small classical guitar with nylon strings, making it less painful during practice. As a guitar player, you have to build up calluses on your fingers.
After guitar lessons, I drove to my friend Ashley's to take maternity pics for her. She was on bedrest and wanted to get some shots with her daughter, Ava, before she delivered. Laura was there too to be my assistant.
Pursue. Overtake. Recover All
After pictures, I drove back on campus because that evening, I had to attend TNE (Tuesday Night Encounter). It is every Tuesday from 7pm-9pm and consists of a guest speaker. I went and sat by myself. Honestly, I felt isolated and for the first time on campus, I felt lonely. I had to check myself and remember that I am here to strengthen my relationship with God. That is priority. With Him, I am never alone. Still, the enemy wanted to make me feel like an outsider. The enemy wants to isolate and attack you.
The speaker was Lead Pastor Adam McCain of Church on the Hill in Cedar Hill, Texas. He preached about how we need to pursue, overtake, and recover all in this life. In the bible, David finds strength in the Lord.
...and David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue."
1 Samuel 30:8-9 (NIV)
David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder of anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 1 Samuel 30:17-19
We cannot just sit and wait for things to happen. There are battles we have to fight. God wants to help us recover our faith, confidence, purity... What has been stolen or taken from you? I know one thing I have to recover is my confidence. My last relationship was very toxic and God helped deliver me out of it. It's almost been two years since the relationship has ended and the best thing that came out of it was that it broke me, having me fall at the feet of Jesus. God is so good, continuing to restore me. I am His beloved, created in His image. I am learning to walk in His light.
After TNE, I walked back to my apartment, feeling down and lonely. Almost immediately, I got a phone call from Faith, asking if she could swing by with a couple of new friends. I gladly said yes. Minutes later, she was at my door with brother and sister Duong and Loan. Hooray, the four Vietnamese students on campus all meet.
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| Duong, Faith, me. There are 4 Viet students on campus. |
Sound of Music
Every Tuesday after class, I have guitar lessons here on campus. I have always loved music. At our first house, my parents converted the garage into the entertainment room and they would throw these rad parties. There was a stage and live band. My dad, being an engineer, created a light system that flashed to the beat of the music. He played bass and electric guitar. My mom sang. Guests would ballroom dance under the disco ball.
I purchased a black Lucero. It's a small classical guitar with nylon strings, making it less painful during practice. As a guitar player, you have to build up calluses on your fingers.
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| let the calluses form. ouch.! |
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| I see myself playing worship songs on future mission trips. I will leave the singing to my friends. |
After guitar lessons, I drove to my friend Ashley's to take maternity pics for her. She was on bedrest and wanted to get some shots with her daughter, Ava, before she delivered. Laura was there too to be my assistant.
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| Ava decided she would rather take pics than be in the pictures. Laura and Stanley the pup were Ava's subjects. |
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| Mother Ashley with daughter Ava. |
Pursue. Overtake. Recover All
After pictures, I drove back on campus because that evening, I had to attend TNE (Tuesday Night Encounter). It is every Tuesday from 7pm-9pm and consists of a guest speaker. I went and sat by myself. Honestly, I felt isolated and for the first time on campus, I felt lonely. I had to check myself and remember that I am here to strengthen my relationship with God. That is priority. With Him, I am never alone. Still, the enemy wanted to make me feel like an outsider. The enemy wants to isolate and attack you.
The speaker was Lead Pastor Adam McCain of Church on the Hill in Cedar Hill, Texas. He preached about how we need to pursue, overtake, and recover all in this life. In the bible, David finds strength in the Lord.
...and David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue."
1 Samuel 30:8-9 (NIV)
David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder of anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 1 Samuel 30:17-19
We cannot just sit and wait for things to happen. There are battles we have to fight. God wants to help us recover our faith, confidence, purity... What has been stolen or taken from you? I know one thing I have to recover is my confidence. My last relationship was very toxic and God helped deliver me out of it. It's almost been two years since the relationship has ended and the best thing that came out of it was that it broke me, having me fall at the feet of Jesus. God is so good, continuing to restore me. I am His beloved, created in His image. I am learning to walk in His light.
After TNE, I walked back to my apartment, feeling down and lonely. Almost immediately, I got a phone call from Faith, asking if she could swing by with a couple of new friends. I gladly said yes. Minutes later, she was at my door with brother and sister Duong and Loan. Hooray, the four Vietnamese students on campus all meet.
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| left to right: Duong, Loan, me, Faith |
Your seat is expensive
Wednesday was the first day of classes. As first year students, our classes are chosen for us. We start the day with worship at 8 for about 30 minutes and then our first class is Old Testament with Mike Massa Principles of Faith with John Hollar follows. 11am (every day) is Lectures in Practical Theology which consists of weekly guest speakers. In the Old Testament class orientation, Pastor Massa stressed one point: "Your seat is expensive." He was a graduate of CFNI and during the years of being here, he has heard many testimonies from students. Students who have made huge sacrifices to be at CFNI. Since my time here, I have met someone who sold everything in his home country to come here to study. One girl was living out of her car for a while and was able to make it on campus from Oklahoma because her friend gave her gas money. Another girl from China had to try three times to get a visa to come here. There were international students standing next to me who still didn't have enough for tuition. CFNI is very supportive with these students and offerings are taken to help pay for them. This is why my seat is expensive. The people who have sat in the same seat before me have risked their life and went through obstacles to attend CFNI. With God as their strength, they overcame. If you are meant to do something in God's will, it will happen if you do your part and have faith.
The 11am guest speaker was Pastor Theo Wolmarans. He preached about each of us having a destiny and purpose. Like Caleb's destiny in the bible, we must know which mountain God has for us to climb and allow God to do it through us. It is a work of faith. Faith must be acted on. We are to believe it and declare it. The faith is in God, not in ourselves. Abraham brought the Israelites out of Egypt with God's help. When making decisions, consult with God so He can direct your life. Satan will do everything in his power to stop you. The authority of Christ is in you. He wants your availability.
After class, I met a 4th semester Haitian student from Boston. I told him I wanted to major in creative media and he said he heard it was a pretty basic program. Hmm. This made me start doubting if I was wasting my time with this major. Should I have done more research and picked a different school for creative media? See that? The enemy loves to put doubt in your head.
Thursday
On Thursdays and Tuesdays, we start with worship and then our classes are CFN Foundational Pillars and Foundation in Creation Science. The Pillars class is taught by the Deans and teaches us the heritage of the school as well as hear testimonies from past students. CFNI has trained 40,000 students. The Creation Science class teaches us about the evolutionary theory vs. creation science from a biblical worldview. The class is taught by Dr. Dennis Lindsey, the son of CFNI founders Gordon and Freda Lindsey. After his parents went to be with the Lord in Heaven, Dr. Dennis Lindsey became the President of CFNI. I think it's pretty cool he teaches our class!
Wednesday was the first day of classes. As first year students, our classes are chosen for us. We start the day with worship at 8 for about 30 minutes and then our first class is Old Testament with Mike Massa Principles of Faith with John Hollar follows. 11am (every day) is Lectures in Practical Theology which consists of weekly guest speakers. In the Old Testament class orientation, Pastor Massa stressed one point: "Your seat is expensive." He was a graduate of CFNI and during the years of being here, he has heard many testimonies from students. Students who have made huge sacrifices to be at CFNI. Since my time here, I have met someone who sold everything in his home country to come here to study. One girl was living out of her car for a while and was able to make it on campus from Oklahoma because her friend gave her gas money. Another girl from China had to try three times to get a visa to come here. There were international students standing next to me who still didn't have enough for tuition. CFNI is very supportive with these students and offerings are taken to help pay for them. This is why my seat is expensive. The people who have sat in the same seat before me have risked their life and went through obstacles to attend CFNI. With God as their strength, they overcame. If you are meant to do something in God's will, it will happen if you do your part and have faith.
The 11am guest speaker was Pastor Theo Wolmarans. He preached about each of us having a destiny and purpose. Like Caleb's destiny in the bible, we must know which mountain God has for us to climb and allow God to do it through us. It is a work of faith. Faith must be acted on. We are to believe it and declare it. The faith is in God, not in ourselves. Abraham brought the Israelites out of Egypt with God's help. When making decisions, consult with God so He can direct your life. Satan will do everything in his power to stop you. The authority of Christ is in you. He wants your availability.
After class, I met a 4th semester Haitian student from Boston. I told him I wanted to major in creative media and he said he heard it was a pretty basic program. Hmm. This made me start doubting if I was wasting my time with this major. Should I have done more research and picked a different school for creative media? See that? The enemy loves to put doubt in your head.
Thursday
On Thursdays and Tuesdays, we start with worship and then our classes are CFN Foundational Pillars and Foundation in Creation Science. The Pillars class is taught by the Deans and teaches us the heritage of the school as well as hear testimonies from past students. CFNI has trained 40,000 students. The Creation Science class teaches us about the evolutionary theory vs. creation science from a biblical worldview. The class is taught by Dr. Dennis Lindsey, the son of CFNI founders Gordon and Freda Lindsey. After his parents went to be with the Lord in Heaven, Dr. Dennis Lindsey became the President of CFNI. I think it's pretty cool he teaches our class!
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