"It is finished..."

This saying has easily gotten me through this year.

One of my favorite words is Tetelestai (τετέλεσται), which is the Greek word for "It is finished".

For me, this is the constant reminder that God has already done it in the past, that he is doing it now, and will continue to do it in the future. For me this has been mainly in regards to my health, a reminder that the price has been paid for, and I am the healed protecting my health. But it also means much more...

Like I said, this saying has helped carry me through this year and I am excited to announce that I have officially graduated from college!

(Men and Women's Basketball Seniors)

It honestly felt surreal up until this moment, but it honestly hit me extremely hard today! I've always been that person who says, "I cannot wait to be done here and move into the real world", "I can't wait to graduate and just be done", "Can't wait to get out of here..." Well the time has officially come and I cannot not feel anymore opposite about those words that have previously come out of my mouth. Today, I was thinking about life after graduation and I am equally excited and nervous. Nervous of the unknown. As much as I may have previously denied it...Jessup has been my home for the past three years...my comfort...where I spend each day with some of my closest friends...am I really ready to leave?

One season is coming to an end and I am stepping into a new one. I believe that I got what I needed to learn from Jessup, about myself in this season, and was able to discover God here, now it's on the the next place where I can do this all over again. Yes, it's a scary thing stepping into a new place...but it's also the amazing part of this "adventure" of a life. I was talking to my brother and he made a great point, "Part of us will always want to return to what we have known...but we must carry it within us and go forward into the unknown." This resonates deep within me. Jessup has provided me with some of the most amazing memories. It had it's highs and lows, laughs and tears, triumphs and battles, but one thing is true...I walk out a new person. I have learned so much about myself and about God. While at the same time making some of my closest and most dear friends and creating memories that will last forever.

Whatever season you are coming out of or into, I want to encourage you to make sure you get the most out of your situation. Discover God and get whatever you feel the Lord is telling you in that season that way when it comes time to move on you can confidently check off the box that you passed the test. That you learned all that God was trying to teach you there. Allow God to work in you, work through you, and work for you.

Now that I'm done with one season I am stepping into a new one where I feel the Lord leading. I am excited to announce that I will be interning/working for Jesus Culture as we prepare to launch JC Sacramento church at the end of this summer. Check back for updates and details! :)

Graduation....Embrace the Process

Crazy to think that I am graduating from college next week. As I think about my time here, it has flown by, literally right before my eyes. 

With that being said, there's something I want to address: Learning to embrace the process!

Sounds easy right? Especially because we all like to think that we so willingly "go with the flow." But do we really embrace all of life situations with joy, peace, and grace (not just the good ones)?

Since we're being honest here...school hasn't ever really been something I'm passionate about. I'd much rather workout, eat, sleep, you get the point. However, the Lord and his sense of humor has blessed me with the ability to do well in school regardless. But now looking back and my four years in college, I notice how I just did the schoolwork to get by, just to reach the point that I'm at now. I never really tried to excel, I never approached school as it being a blessing, my attitude was rarely positive. Oddly enough, I'm graduating Magna Cum Laude, but I don't know if I'm perfectly alright with that. Because why? There is so much more I could have gotten out of college if I really applied myself. I did work, just because I had to, not because I was embracing the process of growth that God was bringing me through. It wasn't until this past semester that the Lord brought this to my attention...let me rephrase that...It wasn't until this past semester that I actually listened and embraced what the Lord had been trying to show me.

The moment I shifted my perspective and improved my effort, I began to grow and mature. It's crazy to see how much I've grown just within my senior year. I now approach school with joy (even my 8am classes) because school is a blessing. When you give 100% in whatever you do, you are more at peace with where you are at in life. I believe this is because when you work hard for something, it has so much more meaning...because it cost you something. 

So whatever situation you are in...work, school, trials, tribulations, or the best time of your life... Embrace the process....approach it with joy (positive attitude), work to be at peace, and approach it with grace! You will get so much more out of it, you will enhance your growth and maturity, and you are essentially doing what God has called us to do in Colossians 3:23-24. 

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."