Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Hey everyone! :) it's me... JAMIE! Yes, you heard me... the real, the only JAMIE! Long time no talk my friends! Actually, this "long time" has flown by. I can't believe that I have less than 2 months left here at school and then I am home for winter break! WOOO HOOOO! I will be flying home (hopefully) December 15th and will be leaving back to Michigan January 11th... so mark your calendars!

So much has been going on here in Jackson. Recently, the colors of the trees have changed from a bright summer green, to a sweet sultry autumn yellow, orange and red. It was absolutely beautiful! And now, it's cold... dropped some many degrees... and soon the ground will no longer be covered in leaves but in snow... oh goodness. :) I try to stay "most active" my playing disc golf... it's about one of the funnest games I have played! I love it! God has provided me a job at Gap at the local mall in town... and let's just say I am getting used to it.. but God not only has provided me a job but a family (my parents) who have proudly supported me this semester. I am so very grateful.

Now, let me introduce you to my beautiful dorm:
Erika, Stephanie, Britni, Leah (my RA), me, and Roberta! We live in what is called the "bat cave" and we love it. I mean what 6 girls wouldn't like a double bathroom all to themselves? :)

My usual day consists of waking up... making my bed... doing my dorm detail (mop, sweep, vacuum), get ready for my day, breakfast, go to class for the next 4 hours, lunch, homework, dinner, homework, and maybe some kind of activity- sports, exercise, social, movie, ect. Latley, I have been in a COMPLETE crotchet frenzy and it's amazing!

God has been teaching me so much here. Let me begin with, I cannot keep God in a box. I had BIG plans for MY life... BIG ASPIRATIONS to accomplish... a narrow minded plan for myself. Well, is God totally fixing my mind to what His is and I have realized that I can't keep God in a box. He has ALL power and authority over my life. If I want to live in His will, I must keep Him out of the box and allow Him to control each step of my life through His Word. God gave me His Word so that I use it to guide my life and I intend on using it!

Another BIG thing God has taught me is how to resist temptation. One thing I have learned is that I won't always resist... there will be times where I fail and fall... but because of God's grace I am forgiven and there is NO guilt or burden I have to carry. Two ways to resist are: 1) knowing what He says. Looking to His Word for advice on the struggle or temptation. If I know that I have a hard time with __________ (struggle) than what does God say about this ________. I have come to find out that temptation comes from my OWN desires which entice me and drag me into sinful actions. It's NO one else's fault, it's my own. In the 3 times that God was tempted by Satan, He used scripture to rebuke Satan. 2) Communicating with God what the struggle is that you are being tempted in. God knows your struggles, He knows what's going on in your head and heart... so why try hiding it? If anything, why wouldn't we just be up front and real with Him? He needs to be our first resource for help. Prayer is how we communicate with God. Try it. :)

[Matthew 4, 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:13]

When slipping into temptation, it's more than just sinning against God... but when you sin against Him you are rejecting the Man who died for you because He knew that you would never be made holy or righteous on your own. Only by the cross have we been justified- made righteous before Him. Praise God... thank God for giving us the gift of grace. :)

This is just a piece of what I have been learning here at school. I have learned so much about God and His character... who I am and who He is. It's absolutley amazing! I tend to update my blog as much as I can.. so check it out... (www.jayesmeyer.blogspot.com) This is where you will hear more about me, what's going on, updates on prayer requests and praises!

Just know I miss you all a lot. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to know you as long as I have. I plan to be back... and to work with you all for a couple weeks in the winter... and then back again in the summer. So, reserve a seat for me on Sunday morning! :) If you would like to get ahold of me in anyway- email me (jamie.esmeyer@gmail.com).

Again, thanks for reading and have a beautiful day. "... the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Love, Jamie.