Keeping The Silence

So here's the story.

Last night in Cov. Group (Covenant Group) my hall was challenged to stay in silence for the rest of the night. It was supposed to be a time to just listen, pray, and hang out with God.
Early this morning we broke the silence with worship. I felt myself being called to keep the silence, so I decided that I was going to continue not talking and carry on with my day listening to God. I had no idea when it would hit me and I certainly had no idea what I was listening for... I just knew that I have been constantly asking and seeking God, but I was not listening nor watching.

Here's stories from my journey.

1) It was hard to keep my mind quiet. Although I was not actually speaking, my mind was constantly rambling!
2) Once I finally gained focus, the little sounds that I didn't hear before were strongly prevalent.
3) Walking around campus was intense. The sound of the wind, footsteps, voices, and all other noises blended intriguingly; however, I was able to pick apart all of the individual sounds.
4) The conversations around made me indifferent. There was so much complaint and so much dirtiness. I was really shocked by it.
5) Chapel. - Worship was intense. Hearing the voices, good or bad, it didn't matter. Collectively it was beautiful. It's funny how Chapels theme correlated with the idea of listening.

In the midst of all the noise and commotion I continued asking God to speak to me, I tried to find Him in the little things that were going on. At the very end of Time Out I had it. I got an indescribable feeling, but everything just clicked. My day replayed in my head and the sounds around me was not what I remembered... but it was what I saw.

I saw hands reaching for God in worship, I saw friends laughing and hugging, I saw couples holding hands, I saw trees swaying in the wind, I saw the ocean in calmness, I saw people in deep prayer, and I saw people I loved.

In every trace of life whether good or bad, there's a vision of Gods work. It was directly said to me in my 8:30 class and again later on in the day... but I didn't realize it then. I've been in a dry and torn place with my life and when I am praying or in a time of worship I see and feel God, but in times when I am just going through my daily routines I don't recognize that he's there.

So as I stood at the end of Time Out, I broke down and leaned on Chelsie's shoulder and peace swept through me. My God spoke and I heard. All of the sites I saw were marked with His grace and love. He told me that He is indeed everywhere and forever He will be.

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I've made a commitment. For the next few months I will be in silence from Tuesday at 10 p.m. (the end of my hall Cov. Group) to Wednesday at 9 p.m. (The beginning of Time Out). The only time that I will speak is in the act of praise. No phone, facebook, t.v., or music (worship excluded). So pray for me. For stength and focus. God speaks, we just need to listen. Dear God, I am absolutely in love with you and all of your works are beautifully intimate.

<3 Sharon

Pictures :)

A few days ago my friends and I decided to take pictures around campus! Enjoy!

"Fire Hydrant!!"

Jen and Jennie
:)

Jennifer Van Wey!

Jen, Jennie, and Jordan on the stairs below BAC!!

JENNIFER VAN WEY!! I'm pretty proud of this picture :)

Jordan, Jennie, and Jen!

Jennie and Jen

Whoooo :)

Jen and Jennie!!

Take 2!

Finally, I have completed my first semester in college and I am currently in the second!
First semester was great. It was very challenging at times, but I got through it successfully! :)

My Christmas break was amazing. I didn't realize how much I missed my high school friends and my family. Yes, I know I am still home, but constantly being around my family was great. One cool thing I did over break was I auditioned for the Santa Clara Vanguard (colorguard) for you marching band people, you know that's a big deal hahaha! I got a call back and I'm really excited to see where the program takes me! Cross your fingers for my next round of auditions!!

Well, Christmas break is over and second semester is now in progress. I have a pretty heavy course load and a rigorous schedule! My days will most likely consist of: class; homework; work; homework; two hours of sleep; then repeat. It's okay though, I am fully prepared and really excited for this semester.

The great thing about second semester is that I no longer feel like a lost little freshman! I am familiar with the campus, I've already got a lot friends, and I know how everything works... nothing compares to the first day I started classes here at Loma! I am very proud to say that I have yet to walk into the wrong class!

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I am very aware that this semester will bring stress, but this verse will be a constant reminder that God is there and he will continue to love and comfort us in our troubles!

Sharon :)

Time Out

I love Time Out, it's definitely what I look forward to throughout my busy week.

Today was an official "time out" for me.

Where's my heart? Where's my mind?

I continue to dwell on how I busy I am and how much I procrastinate. I know I have countless obligations, but I continue to take on more responsibilities for everyone else's benefit. I do not know why I do that, I feel like I have to put myself in that position. I also focus too much on my relationships with specific people, which typically has the tendency to make me feel desolate.

I've been so adamant on pleasing everyone around me that I've lost sight of who I really should be striving to please.

To say, "Jesus you're all this heart is living for," would be a contradiction to where I am right now; however, I am striving to reach that point. I long and work to be in a place where my entirety is with God, from my heart to mind, body, and soul. Though I continue fail, fall, suffer, and question, my faith is undoubtedly irrevocable.

So here's my prayer.

Jesus Be All My Heart Is Living For.

I am currently in a confusing place in my journey, but I will continue to persevere. This video is awesome and it's a reminder to just give it all to Christ because even though you feel lost and empty, He is your guide and your light. That reminder is absolutely powerful.

<3 Sharon

QuEen B

Man, I didn't realize how ridiculously busy I was going to be before entering college. I feel like weeks are just flying by, we're already going into Thanksgiving break!!

The last few weeks I've been thinking about all of the changes that have been happening in my life. My fall job has ended, the semester is almost over, a lot of my high school friends are different, and I even got my nose pierced! There are just so many different things that are going on around me and it's crazy.

With all of the changes and busyness I really haven't had much time to just hang out. However, I did to get to experience one of the coolest things ever!

HOMECOMING

Although I wasn't able to engage in all of Saturday nights activities (including the game) due to work, which was still amazing, I did get to go to the variety show! It was absolutely hilarious and my RA, who is incredibly amazing won Homecoming Queen! Erin is awesome and I couldn't have been placed on a better hall. We made shirts and all showed up to support her.

Homecoming made me realize that I really need to slow down and engage in what God has blessed me with, a fantastic group of girls that I live with! Seriously, N3N is what encourages me daily, they're all such beautiful people and I love the time spent with them. I know that it may sounds bizarre that something like homecoming can bring me such a major recognition of how much I love the people on my hall... but it totally did!

<3>

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-9

God Always Provides

I've been going through these crazy phases here at Loma. As much as I know I love being here, I wasn't allowing myself to truly engage on this campus because I was afraid of not being here next semester due to financial issues. My excuses for transferring seemed legit and I was beginning to convince myself that transferring was the "right" thing to do and it was what I truly wanted.

I was absolutely lying to myself.

How could I ever want to leave this beautiful campus? This place that makes me feel so at peace with Christ... this place that has introduced me to some of the most amazing people I've ever met? This place is His work. It's authentic, beautiful, and more than I could have ever asked for.



Well, God has been listening. With the help of N3N, financial services, some of the most amazing professors, and an advisor that I'm absolutely blessed to have... I'm here and I'm cleared.

God has placed me here for a reason and His plans are still in the works of my life. I am still in absolute disbelief, but I am ridiculously stoked! God works in such mysterious ways and I'm learning to just fully trust that He will undoubtedly provide. I will continue to live here at Loma; I will seek Him, love Him, and make Him my center.

Everything.

So, school has been busy busy! Lately, I've been so wrapped up in school that I was losing site of why I wanted to be at Loma originally. The great thing about it is that this school is a CONSTANT reminder of Christ.

College is not easy, and all of the expectations I had have flown out of the window. I've never been so relieved to see a Friday. This week I had 3 essays, an exam, rigorous daily assignments, and a FINAL! All of the work made me overwhelmed and extremely frustrated with school and seeing the other girls on my hall full of the same anxiety didn't help the situation. N3N was in HW mode all week, which is soooo different for us. Of course, there was an occasional break-out dance party. Gotta love the Nease 3rd North Girls.

Well with the frustrations I was feeling, I was neglecting to pray and seek God daily. Time Out was a huge wake up call. (Megan Libby Rocks!) God's miracles are always around, even when you don't realize it. Don't pass up the chance to be someone else's miracle. Uhhh I can't even express the feeling I'm feeling right now. God is just so good and His works are so precious. I wrote a paper on Habakkuk and I am finally understanding how just trusting that God will lead you through everything is settling. I'm letting Him be my everything.




<3 Sharon.

P.s. - I have successfully completed a college course! I'm going to miss Old Testament!