1) Four Keys to a Great Year

The first week was orientation week, beginning on September 16th. And it seems like everything the leaders have been doing for the past three weeks is handing keys to the students. They've handed us more keys than I could list off the top of my head! I should go through all my notes and compile all the keys onto one page... that would be cool. ^_^

But during orientation week, Tom gave a talk about four of said keys. Four keys to having a great year. Tom is the director of the program, an old fellow who's quite cool and very Sanguine.

I... LOVE these keys! Well, I tend to just love keys in general... but really. These ones are extra special. I"ll just go over them quickly, though, because otherwise I might end up writing pages.

1) Judge other people based on their value, not based on their behavior!!!

Isn't that so epic? It's a good thing to be aware of (probably had never even crossed some of the students' minds before...) and a good thing to ever keep at the forefront of one's mind! Over the past 3 weeks, we students have often brought it up amongst ourselves. Especially when someone's behavior comes into question. ;) Because each and every person is made in the image of God and is therefore inherently valuable. EXTREMELY valuable! Their value never changes, never wavers. But behavior, on the other hand... >_> People's behavior can sure be awful sometimes. So, it's good to always think about people as they are created to be, not as they're acting at this particular moment. ^_^

2) Have confidence in Jesus. Put your confidence in Him and nowhere else!

...Because, really. Everyone and everything else will let you down. If you have a false perception of Jesus, that is an idol which will let you down. If you put your confidence in a "pastor" or any other human being, they will let you down. If you put your confidence in yourself, you'll let you down too. And it's so cool to NOT BE LET DOWN!!! =D 

3) Stop looking for donkeys!

This key is based on a story of when Saul went searching for his lost donkeys. He couldn't find them anywhere, and decided he'd go ask the prophet Samuel if he knew where the donkeys were. It was a divine appointment when he entered the city and asked a random fellow, "Do you know where the prophet is?" That random fellow was actually Samuel. And he said, "Saul, it's time for you to stop looking for donkeys. God wants to anoint you to be king."

Saul was concerned with his donkeys, while God had a much bigger plan than simply giving him the donkeys. Saul was annointed king, and then Samuel said... "By the way, your donkeys are tied up over there." 

Donkeys can represent a husband, wife, career... etc. This is the metaphor of the story. Just don't worry about those things this year! This year is a time to let God anoint you, to let Him give you divine appointments, to let Him prepare you for your future. And next year, next year you can think about your donkeys. God wants to give them to you. And He knows exactly where they are. So don't worry.

4) Your destiny is over your enemies' dead bodies.

Because we all have enemies, you know. Some more serious than others. Students in my class have struggled with addictions. Those are enemies. Sinful habits. Those are enemies. Fear, anxiety, doubt. Those are enemies. These things are the Goliaths that stand in our lives and mock God. These are the Goliaths that hold us back from our destinies. 

"Find something that you want to defeat this year!" said Tom, "Find something you want to defeat!"

Because throughout the year, we students will be handed tools. Truths. Weapons with which we can chop off the heads of our enemies! Mwuahahaha! And over their dead bodies lie our destinies. 

... I love being here at GL. I've been overwhelmed at times and I'm still finding my footing, but really... I LOVE it here! I miss my family, but I know I'll see them soon. And I know I'm meant to be here at this time.