arms wide open

Well, week 2 is about to begin.  Looking back on week 1 almost gives me a headache.  My thoughts are so scrambled but the week has been amazing.  The lectures have been very challenging and I have learned more this week than I have in a long time.  We went to the beautiful city of Christchurch for the day on Friday.  On our way there we stopped at the pier on New Brighton beach and did some worshipping.  It was SO windy but beautiful.  The clouds/sky here is unbelievable, they look so fake.  SO, we were basically given the whole day to explore and get to know the city.  I loved experiencing the square, cathedral, gardens, canals, and people.  We will get to go to Christchurch every Friday for outreach.  On Saturday a few of us decided since it is the end of summer here we should take advantage of the beach.  It was a PERFECT beach day.  A small, fun group went to a beach called Sumner.  Of course it was gorgeous.  It was so nice to soak up the sun, climb on cave rocks, laugh with new friends, and eat icecream.  

This is without a doubt where I am supposed to be.  I am happy and content.  I am enjoying my new friends, laughing a lot, learning a lot, and living in flippin' New Zealand.  Who wouldn't be happy?  This new season of my life has begun and I am open to anything and everything.  So on that note...

I can already tell these next few months are really going to challenge my beliefs and give me more questions, which is a good thing.  Church today was like nothing I have ever experienced.  Many people in the congregation became so "overwhelmed with the spirit" that they fell to their knees or were convulsing. It was like what I have seen on TV.  To be honest, this made me a little nervous... not that I doubted the Lord moving through them but it is just very hard for me to focus on the Lord when so much is going on around me.  I don't want to be uncomfortable around it because I know that is how the Lord communicates with some people.  It is real.  I don't want to be scared of anything God has for me.  I am entering this season with OPEN arms and an OPEN heart.  I am TRUSTING that He will speak to me.  The "still, small voice of God" is just as important as the burning bushes.   This week has reminded me that we all come from different backgrounds and God speaks to us all in different ways.  This will be hard at times.  There will be questions like 'why isn't He speaking to me like that?' or 'am I doing something wrong?'  but I have to remember that He is shaping me into exactly what He wants me to be.  I have been worried that I am going to miss something or not get as much out of these next months as some but there is NO question of change happening.  Whenever I am seeking Him, He will speak to me.  I can rest in that.